Survival after ethylene glycol poisoning in a patient with an arterial pH of 6.58.

This ethylene glycol poisoning case had a blood pH of 6.58 and severe hypothermia (30.9 C). The patient received supportive care with dialysis and ethanol therapy. He survived in his premorbid state after 23 days in the hospital. A similar case survived ethylene glycol poisoning neurologicaly intact with an initial pH of 6.46. Although severe acidosis in the presence of serious illness is usually associated with a poor prognosis, our case emphasized the importance of aggressive supportive care and antidotal therapy for ethylene glycol poisoning even when there is a low pH.