title: Upper airway obstruction caused by ingestion of concentrated acetic acid.
abstract: We report a case of rapidly progressive severe upper airway obstruction in a small child caused by accidental ingestion of 80% acetic acid. Emergency cricothyrotomy was necessary after both endotracheal intubation and bag-valve-mask ventilation were not possible. Although intubation was eventually achieved, a tracheostomy was necessary. Toxin spilled over the anterior chest and abdomen caused third degree skin burns which required grafting. Mild liver dysfunction was observed. Complete recovery occurred.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit and Department of Surgery, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tibballs
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cathie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buist
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millar
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology*; D002424:Caustics / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D014139:Tracheostomy
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D019342:Acetic Acid