[Gastric lesions caused by potassium permanganate tablets. Measures to be taken after ingestion]

Potassium permanganate tablets are caustic and it has been suggested that they should be removed straightaway by gastrostomy, immediately after swallowing. Some operators have been impressed by the macroscopic appearance of the stomach and have carried out gastrectomy. However, the lesions were only fairly superficial on pathological examination. In the light of a new case and 21 similar cases, treated at the Fernand Widal hospital, the authors discuss other cases in the literature. They conclude: the extreme rareness of digestive perforation; the absence of toxicity of breakdown products of potassium permanganate. They propose treatment of neutralisation of the permanganate with sodium hyposulphite, gastric lavage and supervision on a surgical unit. In case of perforation, they believe that the operation should be conservative.