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Death following injection sclerotherapy due to phenol toxicity

Abraham T Philip1, Jeanna M Marraffa

  • 1Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office, 100 Elizabeth Blackwell Street, Syracuse, NY, USA. philipa@njdcj.org

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|July 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Rectal prolapse (PR) in children, often linked to cystic fibrosis (CF), can be treated with injection sclerotherapy (IS). A case report details a fatal outcome in a 2-year-old following phenol IS, highlighting risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Innovation
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Rectal prolapse (PR) is common in pediatric populations, frequently associated with cystic fibrosis (CF).
  • Injection sclerotherapy (IS) is a minimally invasive treatment option for PR.
  • Phenol is used as a sclerotherapeutic agent in IS procedures.

Observation:

  • This case report details a fatal outcome in a 2-year-old female with PR and CF following IS using phenol.
  • Autopsy findings and toxicology tests were conducted to investigate phenol toxicity.
  • The available literature on IS for PR was reviewed.

Findings:

  • Phenol toxicity was identified as the cause of death.
  • The study underscores the potential risks associated with phenol injection sclerotherapy.
  • Adverse outcomes, including fatality, are possible with this procedure.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the critical need for caution when using phenol for IS in pediatric patients.
  • It emphasizes that IS, while minimally invasive, is not without significant risks.
  • Further research into safer sclerotherapeutic agents or alternative treatments for PR in CF patients is warranted.

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