Fatal pulmonary aspiration of oral activated charcoal.

Activated Charcoal Administration in a Pediatric Emergency Department

“…Serious adverse reports of pulmonary aspiration of charcoal are almost invariably associated with gastric tube administration. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] One reported fatality from aspiration of activated charcoal was reported without nasogastric tube but occurred during a seizure and involved multiple doses of activated charcoal administered to a patient with persistent vomiting. 23 Based upon our results and review of the published experience with charcoal administration, we believe that physicians should be explicitly involved with the decision to administer charcoal to children by gastric tube.…”

Recent advances: Management of self poisoning

“…The guidelines do not apply to agents for which multiple dose charcoal would be beneficial or for substances that are not readily adsorbed to charcoal (box 1). 4 5 Charcoal should never be given if the airway cannot be protected, as aspiration pneumonitis is a risk 9…”

Activated Charcoal in the Treatment of Drug Overdose

“…These include nausea and vomiting, particularly in theophylline poisoning (Sessler 1987;Sessler et al 1985), fatal pulmonary aspirations of charcoal (Benson et al 1989;Harsch 1986;Menzies et al 1988;Rau et al 1988), Drug Safety 7 (1) 1992 and charcoal-induced bowel obstructions (Ray et al 1988;Watson et a1. 1986).…”