Medical image of the week: acute amiodarone pulmonary toxicity

• Main Authors: Mazursky K, Natt B, Meinke L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arizona Thoracic Society 2015-10-01
• Series: Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
• Subjects: amiodarone; chest x-ray; CT scan; complication; drug side effect; pneumonia; hypoxia; treatment; corticosteroids; acute
• Online Access: http://www.swjpcc.com/imaging/2015/10/21/medical-image-of-the-week-acute-amiodarone-pulmonary-toxicit.html

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. A 71 year old man with a medical history significant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease with post-operative status coronary artery bypass grafting, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (25%) and atrial fibrillation/flutter underwent an elective ablation of the tachyarrhythmia at another facility and was prescribed amiodarone post procedure. He started complaining of cough and dyspnea one day post procedure and was empirically treated with 2 weeks of broad spectrum antibiotics. He subsequently was transferred to our facility due to worsening symptoms. He also complained of nausea, anorexia with resultant weight loss since starting amiodarone, which was stopped 5 days prior to transfer. Infectious work up was negative. On arrival to our facility, he was diagnosed with small sub-segmental pulmonary emboli, pulmonary edema and possible acute amiodarone toxicity. His was profoundly hypoxic requiring high flow nasal cannula or 100% non-rebreather mask at all times. His symptoms persisted despite ...