Lung injuries associated with electronic cigarette: a literature review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the relationship between the use of electronic cigarettes and the development of lung lesions. Methods: The methodological approach of this work presents a compilation of bibliographic researches of qualitative analysis and of a descriptive character made through an integrative literature review carried out in the National Library of Medicine, Virtual Health Library and Directory of Open Access Journals databases. The descriptors used were electronic cigarettes”, “vaping” and “lung injuries”. The inclusion criteria applied were clinical trial articles, clinical trials, randomized or non-randomized, case-control studies, cohort study, free access, published in English, Portuguese, Spanish and from 2017 to 2022. Results: We analyzed the pattern of imaging performed through chest radiography and/or chest computed tomography, levels of systemic biomarkers, time of vaping use, sex, age and simultaneous or non-use of THC. Radiologically, bilateral infiltrates are seen in almost all cases with nonspecific findings on chest radiography and computed tomography. Final considerations: In this way, you know that the products found in e-cig liquids can injure lung tissue, causing lung lesions that can be seen radiologically.