title: Hydrocarbon Enema: An Unusual Cause of Chemical Burn.
abstract: Hydrocarbons are a wide-ranging group of flammable chemicals and are often used in suicide attempts either by ingestion or as an accelerant in self-immolation. In this case study, we present a 37-year-old female who suffered 6% TBSA partial-thickness burns to her perineum and buttocks, which she claims resulted from diarrhea after ingesting a bottle of lighter fluid. The patient underwent decontamination and medical treatment for her burns and during her inpatient stay, it became apparent that the burns were more likely sustained from an intentional rectal administration of lighter fluid. To our knowledge, this is one of the first reported cases of hydrocarbon enema. We review hydrocarbon poisoning, including both ingestion and dermal exposure, and discuss medical management.
authors.affiliation: From the *Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; †United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; ‡Department of Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; §Gastroenterology Service, Department of Medicine, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and ‖Uniformed Services Universality of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mygatt
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amani
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pamplin
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cancio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000473:pathology*; D002081:Buttocks / Q000473:pathology; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000506:poisoning*; D010502:Perineum / Q000473:pathology; D012652:Self Mutilation
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons