Inhalation of 1-1-difluoroethane: A Rare Cause of Pneumopericardium

We report a case of a 32-year-old man with a past medical history of ethanol use disorder who was brought in unresponsive after inhaling six to 10 cans of the computer cleaning product, Dust-Off. After regaining consciousness, he endorsed severe, pleuritic chest and anterior neck pain. Labs were notable for elevated cardiac enzymes, acute kidney injury, and his initial electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed a partial right bundle branch block with a prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc). On chest X-ray as well as chest computed tomography, the patient was found to have pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and subcutaneous emphysema. The patient’s course was uneventful and he was discharged home two days later after extensive substance abuse cessation counseling. Intentionally inhaling toxic substances, also known as “huffing,” is a dangerous new trend with significant consequences that clinicians need to be aware of and suspect in young patients presenting with chest pain. We present a rare case of pneumopericardium induced by inhalation of Dust-Off (1-1-difluoroethane).