title: Swallowing of hydrochloric acid: study of 25 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Mutua de Terrassa, Barcelona.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muñoz Muñoz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bretcha Boix
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collera Ormazabal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Santiago
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: González Pons
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veloso Veloso
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marco Molina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D006851:Hydrochloric Acid