Respiratory failure in a 28-year-old male

Abstract

A 28-year-old male was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for hypoxic respiratory failure requiring intubation and ventilation. He had been dyspnoeic for months leading up to admission with acute worsening 2 weeks prior and reported a 6-kg weight loss over the same time. Occasional dark sputum was reported without haemoptysis, wheeze, chest pain, fever or infectious symptoms. In regard to social history, he smoked 10 cigarettes per day at the time of presentation (<10-pack-year history) and occasionally used marijuana. He worked as a soapstone carver daily and did not use any respiratory protection. In addition, the patient had exposure to a tuberculosis contact ∼1 year prior to presentation.