Mercury inhalation poisoning and acute lung injury in a child. Use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.

Acute mercury inhalation poisoning is a rare cause of acute lung injury. It is commonly fatal in the young child because of progressive pulmonary failure. We describe a 3-month-old infant who survived this insult with the use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. This form of support may be an option in the patient with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or air leak syndromes.