Extensive tracheobronchitis and lung perforation after alkaline caustic aspiration.

Corrosive tracheobronchitis and lung perforation after caustic aspiration are not very common. We present a case of life-threatening acute respiratory system corrosion after aspiration of caustic alkaline crystals during a suicide attempt. The patient survived the severe burns of the tracheobronchial tract and the liquefaction necrosis of the lung lobe by aggressive airway protection procedures and surgical resection of the destroyed lung. We report this rare, clinical condition and discuss the possible mechanism and its management. Copyright (c) 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.