Fatality due to Hydrocarbon Pneumonitis Following Fuel Siphonage: A Case Report and Literature Review

Siphoning diesel from fuel tanks is a common practice among auto mechanics and garage workers, particularly in rural areas, which has a high risk of aspiration. Hydrocarbon pneumonitis is a rare and under-reported emergency medical illness caused by accidental aspiration of volatile substances such as diesel. Although the actual prevalence of this type of accident injury is unknown, it is limitedly reported. There is a paucity of literature, with only a few case reports of such events and their consequences coming from India.

Case Report: 

A 24-year-old male was admitted with a provisional diagnosis of chemical pneumonitis and ARDS two hours after aspiration of diesel, while siphoning it from the fuel tank. On postmortem examination, Lungs were heavy, weighing 1265 grams and 1160 grams, congested and edematous with rupture of alveoli, consolidation was seen in middle and lower lobe of the lungs, and gastrointestinal mucosal was also congested. Histologically, sheets of foamy macrophages admixed with squamous epithelial cells were seen.

Diesel aspiration can induce a wide range of symptoms, from a simple cough and fever to severe ARDS and death. As a result, manual siphoning should be avoided, and if it must be done, it should be done with caution. Proper history taking, including occupation and examination, accurate diagnosis, and treatment may improve the prognosis of patients suffering from hydrocarbon pneumonitis as a result of fuel siphonage.