J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2012 Jun;23(3):443-447.

A Case of Successful Treatment for Acute Complication Caused by Ingestion of a Large Amount of Glacial Acetic Acid

• Wang HB
• Kim JH
• Kim TH
• Kim TH
• Park JS
• Cho KP
• Lee JS

Abstract

Glacial acetic acid, a caustic substance of strong acidity, can easily be found in our daily lives; sometimes, it is drunk for the purpose of suicide, or it can be misjudged as a beverage. Glacial acetic acid is corrosive and toxic, therefore, even a tiny amount may cause fatal damage, such as gastrointestinal injury and systemic complication. A 66-year-old male patient, based on the wrong information, that glacial acetic acid is a healthy beverage, ingested 250 mL of 99% glacial acetic acid. Complications included gastric perforation, hemolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, and liver dysfunction. We achieved successful treatment through performance of emergency surgery and hemodialysis on the patient, who had ingested a more than fatal dose of glacial acetic acid; herein, we would like to report on the case along with a review of the literature.

Keyword

Glacial acetic acid; Complication; Hemodialysis; Perforation

MeSH Terms

Acetic Acid
Acute Kidney Injury
Aged
Beverages
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Eating
Emergencies
Hemolysis
Humans
Liver Diseases
Male
Renal Dialysis
Suicide
Acetic Acid