Severe methyl bromide poisoning causing early acute renal failure and anuria: a case report

• Published in: Journal of international medical research Vol. 50; no. 10; pp. 30006052211226 - 3000605221122619
• Main Authors: Li, Yaqian, Yu, Guangcai, Shi, Longke, Zhao, Liwen, Wen, Zixin, Kan, Baotian, Wang, Wenjun, Jian, Xiangdong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2022; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Anuria; Case Reports; Kidney diseases; Medical diagnosis; Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; Poisoning; Respiratory failure; multiple organ failure; poisoning; methyl bromide; continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration; anuria; diagnosis; respiratory inhalation; prognosis; Acute renal failure
• ISSN: 0300-0605; 1473-2300
• DOI: 10.1177/03000605221122619

Methyl bromide is a pre-plant soil fumigant that is widely used to control nematodes, insects, and fungi in farmlands. Methyl bromide enters the human body through dermal absorption or inhalation and can damage the respiratory, nervous, circulatory, urinary, and other systems. A 62-year-old man who had inhaled a large amount of methyl bromide was admitted to our department. He presented with respiratory failure and pink foamy sputum. He was started on dexamethasone, alanyl glutamine, sulbactam, furosemide, vitamin B1, mouse nerve growth factor, and other treatments, and mechanical ventilation and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHF) were performed daily. He subsequently developed coagulopathy because of the CVVHF, for which protamine, recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, and albumin were administered intravenously. Notably, the patient developed sustained anuria and eventually died owing to multiple organ failure; specifically, failure of the brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys. This report presents the diagnosis, clinical course, management, and prognosis of a patient who was treated at our hospital for severe methyl bromide poisoning.