Hands OnExploding e-cigarette
Section snippets
Background
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been touted as an alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes and a way to avoid the adverse effects of smoking without missing out on the nicotine. These devices consist of a heating element and a cartridge that contains the vapor solution. The solution contains nicotine, flavorings, and additives to enhance the vapor effects. A lithium-ion battery is the power source and is triggered manually or when the consumer initiates a “drag.” Although some
Case Report
Man, 18, suffered oral and abdominal burns, oral lacerations, tooth fracture, and tooth avulsion when an e-cigarette exploded in his mouth. He was seen at a local hospital, then a burn surgery unit and had received antibiotic coverage and analgesia with narcotic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. He reported that the explosion occurred when he activated the device by pushing the button. There was no loss of consciousness but he was unclear about what happened after the event. A
Discussion
Between 2008 and 2012, 47 events, 8 of which were serious, occurred involving e-cigarettes. The US Fire Administration reported 25 incidents of explosion and fire related to e-cigarettes. The explosion in the patient reported occurred while he was using the e-cigarette and holding it between his lips. The impact affected structures in the upper and back part of his oral cavity, but did not injure his eyes or result in foreign bodies deposited in the lungs. There were, however, extensive
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Rogér JM, Abayon M, Elad S, et al: Oral trauma and tooth avulsion following explosion of e-cigarette. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 74:1181-1185, 2016
Reprints available from JM Rogér, Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastman Inst for Oral Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Univ of Rochester, Box 705, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642; e-mail: [email protected]