Bronchoscopy in Crack Lung

Abstract

We describe the bronchoalveolar lavage appearance in a patient presenting with chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, and diffuse interstitial infiltrates after the inhalation of crack cocaine. There was a gradual darkening of the aspirated fluid reflecting increased recovery of carbonaceous material introduced into the lung during deep inhalation of ignited crack. This emphasizes the importance of early bronchoscopy as a diagnostic tool for this entity and for the recognition of potential complications of thermal injury, a component of crack lung syndrome.