Guidance on the clinical management of e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI)?

Abstract

In the summer of 2019 there was a rise in clusters of adolescents and young adults in the United States reporting to emergency departments with acute respiratory distress related to e-cigarette or vaping usage. The number of patients with E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) continued to rise through the summer before peaking in September 2019. Through the efforts of state and federal public health agencies, officials were able to define the condition, identify the relationship of the respiratory injury to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)- containing products, and stem the rise in new cases. In this report, we present a comprehensive review of the clinical characteristics and features of EVALI patients and present guidelines for patient care and management to inform and navigate clinicians who may encounter these patients in their clinical practice.