Cold injury from pressurized liquid ammonia: a report of two cases

Patients exposed to pressurized liquids or gases present unique diagnostic and treatment challenges to the Emergency Physician. The potential for injury depends upon the properties of the chemical in addition to the thermodynamic effects from exposure to a pressurized substance. We present two cases of exposure to pressurized ammonia during an industrial accident. One patient's symptoms were consistent with an ammonia alkali burn, whereas the other patient's symptoms were more characteristic of a significant thermal injury caused by the rapid expansion and evaporation of a pressurized liquid.