Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdose

Abstract Background Annually, close to 5000 children under age 6 years are treated in emergency departments or admitted for care due to opioid exposures. Naloxone is effectively used to treat opioid overdose in both children and adults. Non‐cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a rare but serious adverse e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sarah Grout, Madhuri Dave, Roxanna Lefort
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-06-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12740
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850243987147849728
author Sarah Grout
Madhuri Dave
Roxanna Lefort
author_facet Sarah Grout
Madhuri Dave
Roxanna Lefort
author_sort Sarah Grout
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Annually, close to 5000 children under age 6 years are treated in emergency departments or admitted for care due to opioid exposures. Naloxone is effectively used to treat opioid overdose in both children and adults. Non‐cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a rare but serious adverse effect of naloxone administration that has been reported in adults. Case Report We present the case of a 3‐year‐old male with suspected opioid overdose who developed acute hypoxia due to pulmonary edema after administration of naloxone following a likely prolonged downtime. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? The copious fluid in the airway made for difficult intubation at a pediatric tertiary care center. Given the incidence of opioid exposures in children, clinicians should be aware of this rare, but dangerous adverse effect of naloxone and consider airway precautions and pediatric critical care availability early in the presentation.
format Article
id doaj-art-aa782854de1d449398a11b749c8e230c
institution OA Journals
issn 2688-1152
language English
publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
spelling doaj-art-aa782854de1d449398a11b749c8e230c2025-08-20T01:59:52ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522022-06-0133n/an/a10.1002/emp2.12740Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdoseSarah Grout0Madhuri Dave1Roxanna Lefort2Department of Pediatrics Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USADivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USADivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis Indiana USAAbstract Background Annually, close to 5000 children under age 6 years are treated in emergency departments or admitted for care due to opioid exposures. Naloxone is effectively used to treat opioid overdose in both children and adults. Non‐cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a rare but serious adverse effect of naloxone administration that has been reported in adults. Case Report We present the case of a 3‐year‐old male with suspected opioid overdose who developed acute hypoxia due to pulmonary edema after administration of naloxone following a likely prolonged downtime. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? The copious fluid in the airway made for difficult intubation at a pediatric tertiary care center. Given the incidence of opioid exposures in children, clinicians should be aware of this rare, but dangerous adverse effect of naloxone and consider airway precautions and pediatric critical care availability early in the presentation.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12740fentanylintubationopiateopiate overdosepediatric emergencytoxicologypulmonary edema
spellingShingle Sarah Grout
Madhuri Dave
Roxanna Lefort
Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdose
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
fentanyl
intubation
opiate
opiate overdose
pediatric emergencytoxicology
pulmonary edema
title Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdose
title_full Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdose
title_fullStr Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdose
title_full_unstemmed Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdose
title_short Naloxone‐associated pulmonary edema in a 3‐year‐old with opioid overdose
title_sort naloxone associated pulmonary edema in a 3 year old with opioid overdose
topic fentanyl
intubation
opiate
opiate overdose
pediatric emergencytoxicology
pulmonary edema
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12740
work_keys_str_mv AT sarahgrout naloxoneassociatedpulmonaryedemaina3yearoldwithopioidoverdose
AT madhuridave naloxoneassociatedpulmonaryedemaina3yearoldwithopioidoverdose
AT roxannalefort naloxoneassociatedpulmonaryedemaina3yearoldwithopioidoverdose