Experimental Aspiration Pneumonia: V. Acute Pulmonary Edema, Pneumonia, and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Produced by Injection of Ethyl Alcohol

Abstract

Single injections of ethyl alcohol into the tracheas of 33 rabbits produced acute pulmonary edema or pneumonia, depending on the strength and the volume of alcohol injected. Injection of 1 to 5 ml. of absolute ethyl alcohol caused death from pulmonary edema or pneumonia in all of a series of 10 animals. Injection of 2 or 5 ml. of 50% ethyl alcohol caused death in all of a series of 7 animals. Injection of 1 ml. of 50% ethyl alcohol did not kill either of 2 rabbits, and injection of 5 ml. of 25% ethyl alcohol was fatal in only 1 of 14 rabbits. It is suggested that some of the unexplained deaths that occur during or shortly after the ingestion of ethyl alcohol by human beings may possibly result from the aspiration of alcohol during swallowing, or the aspiration of alcoholic gastric contents. Aspiration of alcohol may cause fatal acute pulmonary edema, or it may be the factor that initiates a fatal pneumonia during or after an alcoholic spree. An interesting incidental finding in this study was the development of a lesion similar to that described in human beings with bronchiolitis obliterans. The pathogenesis of this lesion was outlined, with emphasis on the view that the fundamental damage to the bronchiole occurs within a matter of minutes (or, at the most, a few hours) after exposure to the irritant. This concept should be considered in the evaluation of methods . for preventing or treating this condition.