Citation

Ly BT, Williams SR, Clark RF. Ann. Emerg. Med. 2002; 39(3): 312-315.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1067/mem.2002.119508

PMID

11867987

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.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Charcoal; Chelating Agents; Dimercaprol; Electrolytes; Humans; Intestines; Male; Mercury Poisoning; Polyethylene Glycols; Succimer; Suicide, Attempted; Therapeutic Irrigation