A Systematic Literature Review of E-Cigarette-Related Illness and Injury: Not Just for the Respirologist

Anna Tzortzi, Melpo Kapetanstrataki, Vaso Evangelopoulou and Panagiotis Behrakis
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Anna Tzortzi: George D. Behrakis Research Lab, Hellenic Cancer Society, 17B Ipitou Street, 10557 Athens, Greece
Melpo Kapetanstrataki: George D. Behrakis Research Lab, Hellenic Cancer Society, 17B Ipitou Street, 10557 Athens, Greece
Vaso Evangelopoulou: George D. Behrakis Research Lab, Hellenic Cancer Society, 17B Ipitou Street, 10557 Athens, Greece
Panagiotis Behrakis: George D. Behrakis Research Lab, Hellenic Cancer Society, 17B Ipitou Street, 10557 Athens, Greece

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-27

Abstract: Following the recent electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) illness outbreak, the current review aimed to collect all related clinical cases for study and analysis and provide a critical synopsis of the proposed injury mechanism. Adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis) guidelines, e-cigarette-related clinical cases were identified via Google Scholar and PubMed databases. Additionally, references of published case reports and previous review papers were manually searched, revealing 159 publications presenting e-cigarette-related case reports and 19 reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 238 individual cases were identified; 53% traumatic injuries due to e-cigarette explosion or self-combustion, 24% respiratory cases, and 12% poisonings. Additional cases pertained to oral, cardiovascular, immunologic, hematologic, allergic reactions, infant complications, and altered medication levels. Case reports were mainly published between 2016–2019 (78%). The oldest case, a lipoid pneumonia, was published in 2012. The current review showed that e-cigarette-related health effects extend beyond the acute lung injury syndrome, including traumatic, thermal injuries and acute intoxications. Physicians should be aware of the distinct clinical presentations and be trained to respond and treat effectively. Regulators and public health authorities should address the regulatory gap regarding electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and novel tobacco products.

Keywords: electronic cigarette; vaping; e-vaping acute lung injury (EVALI); VAPI; e-cigarette explosion; nicotine intoxication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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