Inhaled drugs can result in which of the following complications?

Inhaled drugs can lead to alveolar hemorrhage, which is a serious lung condition where there is bleeding within the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs. This condition can occur as a result of various factors associated with inhaling substances, such as direct irritation and damage to lung tissue or the immune response triggered by the inhaled material. The high absorption rate of inhaled drugs can also cause rapid systemic effects, making the lungs particularly vulnerable to injury.

Alveolar hemorrhage often presents with symptoms such as coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, and reduced oxygen levels in the blood. Understanding this complication is critical for clinicians because it emphasizes the potential for severe respiratory consequences from the misuse of inhaled substances. This knowledge also underscores the importance of monitoring and treating respiratory symptoms in patients who have a history of inhalant use.

While mediastinitis, cardiac arrest, and esophageal rupture can occur as complications of various medical conditions, they are not directly associated with the inhalation of drugs in the same way that alveolar hemorrhage is. Therefore, alveolar hemorrhage is the most relevant and specific complication linked to the use of inhaled drugs.