Scientific article
Case report
OA Policy
English

Accidental aspiration of a solid tablet of sodium hypochlorite

Published inBMJ case reports, vol. 2018, bcr-2018-224213
Errata
  • The substance ingested by the patient described in the case report was sodium hypochlorite (Bleach, pKa=7.52) and not sodium hydroxide (Caustic soda, pKa=14.8).
  • DOI : 10.1136/bcr-2018-224213corr1
  • PMID : 30121563
First online date2018-06-21
Abstract

Sodium hypochlorite is a corrosive, highly alkaline (pka=7.52) household product. Ingestion of sodium hydroxide liquid is common, showing toxicity on the oesophagus and stomach. Nevertheless, cases of sodium hydroxide ingestions in pellet are rare and the management of them is unknown. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who accidentally swallowed a bleach tablet of 3.5 g. Six hours later, the patient developed an aphonia associated with dysponea stage IV, motivating a nasofibroscopy showing glottis and supraglottic necrosis and oedema for which the patient received intravenous steroids, was intubated and then underwent a tracheotomy. After 2 weeks under tracheotomy, local evolution was favourable allowing a removal of the cannula and a return back home.

Keywords
  • Ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology
  • Poisoning
  • Resuscitation
Citation (ISO format)
BOONEKAMP, Caroline, VORUZ, François Jean Albert, FEHLMANN, Christophe. Accidental aspiration of a solid tablet of sodium hypochlorite. In: BMJ case reports, 2018, vol. 2018, p. bcr–2018–224213. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-224213
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Article (Published version) - After correction
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Identifiers
Journal ISSN1757-790X
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