Swallowing of hydrochloric acid: study of 25 cases.

Muñoz Muñoz E, Bretcha Boix P, Collera Ormazabal P, Rodríguez Santiago J, González Pons G, Veloso Veloso E, Marco Molina C

Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Mutua de Terrassa, Barcelona.

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 1998 Oct;90(10):701-7.

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.