E-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) is a developing serious pulmonary disease associated with the increasing use of vaping products in both civilian and active duty populations. This case study describes an active duty trainee using unbranded vaping products who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome necessitating intubation and multiday intensive care unit hospitalization. Diffuse ground glass opacities in imaging, lipid-laden macrophages found on bronchoalveolar lavage, negative infectious disease workup, and recent vaping indicate EVALI. This case demonstrates more work needs to be done within the Armed Forces to reduce use of vaping products given the danger of EVALI.
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2021. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.