Zinc chloride smoke inhalation: a rare cause of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome

Zinc chloride smoke inhalation is a rare cause of slowly progressive and of ten fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The conventional trea tment includes intravenous N-acetylcysteine, L-3, 4-dehydroproline, methyle ne blue, and respiratory support according to the lung protective strategy. This report presents the cases of three patients with serious zinc chlorid e inhalation and ARDS, the last of whom survived after prolonged intensive care, videothoracoscopic excision of emphysema bullae, and recurrent chemic al pleurodesis.