Abstract
We experienced a case of calcium chloride poisoning complicated by small intestinal necrosis. A 79-year-old woman with dementia who had undergone total gastrectomy for gastric cancer erroneously ingested 100 ml of a liquid suspension of calcium chloride desiccant grains in aqueous calcium chloride solution while alone at home. Two and one-half hours later, she presented to our hospital's emergency department free of symptoms and was hospitalized for acute calcium chloride poisoning. The following evening, she complained of abdominal pain and exhibited tenderness and muscular guarding of the entire abdomen, with melena and hypotension. Since abdominal ultrasonography and CT demonstrated peritoneal effusion and abdominal tap yielded turbid ascitic fluid with an unusual odor, gastrointestinal perforation was suspected and emergency laparotomy performed. Extensive necrosis of the small intestine was observed but without apparent perforation. After partial resection of the small intestine and peritoneal cavity lavage/drainage, she was transferred to the ICU. She survived disseminated intravascular coagulation and renal dysfunction, and was transferred to the general ward on hospital day 8 and discharged from the hospital on hospital day 33. Although calcium chloride is considered relatively harmless, calcium chloride poisoning due to ingestion can cause severe gastrointestinal injury and may cause death.
