The Role of Radiological Imaging in the Early Diagnosis of Pulmonary Complications of Acute Opioid Poisoning

Acute poisoning caused by opioid drugs has become widespread worldwide. The increasing incidence of acute opioid poisoning has led to dysfunction of vital organs and impairment of essential physiological functions, often requiring complex and costly treatment. In cases of opioid poisoning, the principal complication is respiratory depression, which occurs through two main mechanisms: suppression of the respiratory drive through the activation of μ-opioid receptors, which can be reversed by antidotal therapy, and pulmonary injury resulting from hypoxia and/or aspiration. Pulmonary injury often requires complex, multimodal treatment. In addition, nosocomial complications are common and may necessitate prolonged antibiotic therapy. Given these considerations, early diagnosis is essential to identify life-threatening conditions and reduce the risk of long-term complications requiring extensive treatment. Among the diagnostic methods used to assess pulmonary injury, radiological imaging plays a central role. Chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) are indispensable for the early detection of pulmonary abnormalities and the diagnosis of subsequent complications. Our retrospective cohort study, which included 30 patients, demonstrated that computed tomography should be considered an important diagnostic screening tool for detecting pulmonary complications in patients with acute opioid poisoning. Both in the early and later stages of the clinical course, CT provides more detailed visualization of pulmonary lesions associated with acute opioid poisoning.