title: Oropharyngeal airway obstruction after the accidental ingestion of Arisaema amurense.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arisaema amurense is widely known in Korean folklore as a poisonous plant, and its lethal toxicity has long been recognized. The toxicity of Arisaema amurense is due to its content of calcium oxalate, which causes painful oropharyngeal edema, hypersalivation, aphonia, oral ulceration, esophageal erosion, and hypocalcemia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report a case of accidental poisoning after ingestion of the rhizome of Arisaema amurense, resulting in airway obstruction that required endotracheal intubation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 60-year-old man developed oral pain and swelling after accidentally ingesting a rhizome from the Arisaema amurense plant as a medicinal herb. His symptoms worsened upon his arrival in the Emergency Department, and he was unable to speak due to oral swelling and hypersalivation. The patient underwent endotracheal intubation to protect his airway and was treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. Three days after treatment, he had improved and was extubated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We describe an emergent treatment course for a patient with acute airway obstruction resulting from the ingestion of Arisaema amurense.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seung Mok
authors: SM
authors: Ryoo
authors: Chang Hwan
authors: CH
authors: Sohn
authors: Bum Jin
authors: BJ
authors: Oh
authors: Won Young
authors: WY
authors: Kim
authors: Kyoung Soo
authors: KS
authors: Lim
authors: Christopher C
authors: CC
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D031057:Arisaema / Q000506:poisoning*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D006633:Histamine Antagonists
keywords: Araceae; ingestion; oxalate; toxic plants