Daniel M. Libby, MD; Ludwig Klein, MD; Nasser K. Altorki, MD
Altered mental status ranging from psychosis to coma occurs in over a quarter of patients presenting to emergency departments after use of cocaine and is second in frequency only to cardiopulmonary complaints (1, 2). Depression of the sensorium is an important risk factor for aspiration of foreign bodies into the tracheobronchial tree. Although the initial symptoms of cough, choking, gagging, and airway obstruction often lead to the correct diagnosis, an asymptomatic stage may follow when adaption to chronic stimulation of airway reflexes by the foreign body cause the diagnosis to be overlooked. Chronic cough, intractable wheezing, hemoptysis, postobstructive pneumonia, and
Libby DM, Klein L, Altorki NK. Aspiration of the Nasal Septum: A New Complication of Cocaine Abuse. Ann Intern Med. ;116:567–568. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-116-7-567
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1992;116(7):567-568.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-116-7-567
Pulmonary/Critical Care, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Substance Abuse.
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