• Chung-Chi Jennifer Chao and Juan Ronco.
• Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 855 West 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada. Jen.cc.chao@gmail.com.
• Can J Anaesth. 2022 Oct 1; 69 (10): 130013041300-1304.

BackgroundFreon™ is a halogenated hydrocarbon often used as a refrigerant. When inhaled recreationally, it has the desired effects of euphoria and intoxication. Toxic effects include cardiovascular and neurologic insults such as arrhythmias and seizures, and less well-described toxicities include airway and lung injury. The treatment in general is primarily supportive.Clinical FeaturesWe present the case of a 42-yr-old previously healthy male who developed acute bronchiolitis and pneumonitis following inhalation of Freon leading to severe respiratory failure. He was supported by veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and managed with high-dose corticosteroids.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first case report of an inhaled Freon exposure resulting in acute lung injury refractory to conventional therapy that was salvaged by vv-ECMO as a bridge towards a full recovery.© 2022. Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.

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