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Mercuric oxide poisoning treated with whole-bowel irrigation and chelation therapy.

Abstract
Most reported cases of inorganic mercury poisoning are from mercuric chloride. We report a case of mercuric oxide (HgO) powder ingestion. A 31-year-old man presented to an emergency department after ingestion of approximately 40 g of HgO. Soon after ingestion, he developed nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping. Abdominal radiograph revealed densely radiopaque material in the stomach. Gastrointestinal decontamination was accomplished with activated charcoal and whole-bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol solution (Golytely) for 24 hours until repeat abdominal radiographs no longer demonstrated the substance in the gastrointestinal tract. He was also chelated with British anti-Lewisite for 5 days, followed by succimer for 10 days. He had markedly elevated urine and blood mercury levels after ingestion, but except for a mildly depressed serum bicarbonate (19 mEq/L), his chemistry results remained normal including blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. He had an uncomplicated hospital course and remained asymptomatic at 6 months postingestion. Despite elevated urine and blood mercury levels after ingestion of HgO, our patient did not develop the end-organ toxicity typical of inorganic mercury poisoning.
AuthorsBinh T Ly, Saralyn R Williams, Richard F Clark
JournalAnnals of emergency medicine (Ann Emerg Med) Vol. 39 Issue 3 Pg. 312-5 (Mar 2002) ISSN: 0196-0644 [Print] United States
PMID11867987 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Chelating Agents
  • Electrolytes
  • Golytely
  • Dimercaprol
  • Charcoal
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Succimer
Topics
  • Adult
  • Charcoal (therapeutic use)
  • Chelating Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Dimercaprol (therapeutic use)
  • Electrolytes (therapeutic use)
  • Humans
  • Intestines
  • Male
  • Mercury Poisoning (therapy)
  • Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
  • Succimer (therapeutic use)
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Therapeutic Irrigation (methods)

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