Tetracycline Aspiration

Abstract

A 74-year-old woman presented with a 2-day history of cough, dyspnea and wheezing following aspiration of a tetracycline tablet. She developed a left lower lobe pneumonitis, and bronchoscopy revealed left main bronchus narrowing and exudate. The course of this patient is discussed in reference to the available literature on toxic aspirations.

Severe Endobronchial Inflammation Induced by Aspiration of a Ferrous Sulfate Tablet

“…For example, alendronate or tetracycline dissolves within the airway producing marked mucosal edema, inflammation and even a pseudomembrane. Aspirated materials were not found on bronchoscopic examination 5 6 . On the other hand, non-dissolved medications such as calcium carbonate or ciprofloxacin cause airway obstruction and subsequent obstructive pneumonia rather than airway inflammation.…”

Iron pill aspiration syndrome: A case report and literature review

“…Aspiration of medications present in various ways depending on the chemical property. Alendronate and tetracycline are known to dissolve within the airway producing marked mucosal edema, an inflammatory response to the extent of pseudo-membrane formation [ 7 , 8 ]. Non-dissolving compounds like Ciprofloxacin, Sucralfate, and Calcium carbonate are reported to present with airway obstruction [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Multivitamin pill aspiration leading to hemorrhagic bronchial necrosis

“…Mucosal discoloration, edema and subsequent bronchial stenosis have been described [[3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]]. Magnesium, calcium and potassium and tetracycline are the other tablet aspirations described which have effects of mucosal edema and inflammation [[9], [10], [11], [12]]. To our knowledge this is the first case of soy based soft gel multivitamin tablet aspiration described in the literature.…”