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Swallowing of hydrochloric acid: study of 25 cases
E Muñoz Muñoz1, P Bretcha Boix, P Collera Ormazabal
1Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Mutua de Terrassa, Barcelona.
Introduction:
Ingestion of hydrochloric acid solutions (Salfumant/Salfuman) constitute a relatively frequent emergency in our environment. It is a strong acid, highly corrosive, the swallowing of which causes a very serious necrosis of the gastrointestinal tract.
Aim:
We review our experience on emergency treatment of inpatients after the swallowing of watery hydrochloric acid solutions, in order to identify the most important prognosis factor.
Patients And Methods:
During the last thirteen years, 25 patients have been attended in our center with the diagnosis of hydrochloric acid swallowing. The clinical and therapeutical characteristics are respectively analyzed, as well as the high morbi-mortality of these kind of emergencies.
Results:
Global mortality of the series has been 48% (12 patients). The common characteristic of these 12 patients was the esophagogastric massive necrosis, and the duodenopancreatic frame necrosis. Ten patients who did not present duodenal necrosis or were operated on of later complications, survived. Three patients could be managed with medical conservative treatment.
Conclusions:
Hydrochloric acid swallowing constitutes an extraordinary severe emergency, with a high mortality, mainly related to necrosis extension to the duodenopancreatic frame.