Silent threat: A case report of acute fulminant exogenous lipoid pneumonia leading to severe ARDS
- 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
Abstract
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is a rare pulmonary disorder resulting from the aspiration or inhalation of exogenous lipid substances. While most documented cases follow an indolent, chronic course and are associated with favorable outcomes, fulminant postoperative ELP remains exceedingly uncommon—often presenting with rapid respiratory decompensation that may clinically and radiologically mimic severe community-acquired pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We report a 61-year-old man with occult fulminant postoperative ELP after repeated oral liquid paraffin use for bowel obstruction caused by a large rectal neoplasm. No definite aspiration event was witnessed. After emergency diverting ileostomy, he developed rapidly progressive refractory hypoxemia with bilateral ground-glass opacities and consolidations on chest CT. BALF pathogen testing was largely negative, although a positive galactomannan result meant that fungal coinfection could not be fully excluded. Oil Red O staining demonstrated lipid-laden macrophages, supporting the diagnosis of ELP. Despite invasive mechanical ventilation, prone positioning, segmented alveolar lavage, systemic corticosteroids, adjunctive IVIG, respiratory failure progressed. The patient died three days after discharge against medical advice, most likely from progressive respiratory failure. This case highlights a rare and fulminant form of postoperative exogenous lipoid pneumonia following liquid paraffin exposure for bowel obstruction. Early recognition is important because ELP may coexist with infection and can progress rapidly despite intensive supportive care.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026silent,
title = {{Silent threat: A case report of acute fulminant exogenous lipoid pneumonia leading to severe ARDS}},
author = {Na Wang and Wei Cheng and Hua Zhao and Yun Long and Huaiwu He},
journal = {Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/17534666261495482},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/17534666261495482},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Silent threat: A case report of acute fulminant exogenous lipoid pneumonia leading to severe ARDS
AU - Na Wang
AU - Wei Cheng
AU - Hua Zhao
AU - Yun Long
AU - Huaiwu He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease
DO - 10.1177/17534666261495482
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/17534666261495482
AB - Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is a rare pulmonary disorder resulting from the aspiration or inhalation of exogenous lipid substances. While most documented cases follow an indolent, chronic course and are associated with favorable outcomes, fulminant postoperative ELP remains exceedingly uncommon—often presenting with rapid respiratory decompensation that may clinically and radiologically mimic severe community-acquired pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We report a 61-year-old man with occult fulminant postoperative ELP after repeated oral liquid paraffin use for bowel obstruction caused by a large rectal neoplasm. No definite aspiration event was witnessed. After emergency diverting ileostomy, he developed rapidly progressive refractory hypoxemia with bilateral ground-glass opacities and consolidations on chest CT. BALF pathogen testing was largely negative, although a positive galactomannan result meant that fungal coinfection could not be fully excluded. Oil Red O staining demonstrated lipid-laden macrophages, supporting the diagnosis of ELP. Despite invasive mechanical ventilation, prone positioning, segmented alveolar lavage, systemic corticosteroids, adjunctive IVIG, respiratory failure progressed. The patient died three days after discharge against medical advice, most likely from progressive respiratory failure. This case highlights a rare and fulminant form of postoperative exogenous lipoid pneumonia following liquid paraffin exposure for bowel obstruction. Early recognition is important because ELP may coexist with infection and can progress rapidly despite intensive supportive care.
SN - 1753-4658
SN - 1753-4666
ER -