Tracheal injury caused by ingested paraquat.

Paraquat is a potent herbicide of lethal toxicity. Its injury mechanism is attributed to the generation of very-reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide radicals, through which multiple injuries are produced on mucosa, although there have been no reports of injuries on the trachea. We describe a case of fatal paraquat poisoning with tracheal injuries, where the clinical debut was acute respiratory insufficiency and a spontaneous pneumothorax.