Brendan Byrne1, Robert Sherwin2, Cheryl Courage1, Alfred Baylor3, Bram Dolcourt2, Jacek R Brudzewski2, Jeffrey Mosteller4, Robert F Wilson3. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Sinai-Grace Hospital, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Sinai-Grace Hospital, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Surgery, Section of Hyperbaric Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. 3. Department of Surgery, Section of Hyperbaric Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Surgery, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. 4. Department of Surgery, Section of Hyperbaric Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly available product and its ingestion has been demonstrated to produce in vivo gas bubbles, which can embolize to devastating effect. OBJECTIVE: We report two cases of hydrogen peroxide ingestion with resultant gas embolization, one to the portal system and one cerebral embolus, which were successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO), and review the literature. CASE REPORT: Two individuals presented to our center after unintentional ingestion of concentrated hydrogen peroxide solutions. Symptoms were consistent with portal gas emboli (Patient A) and cerebral gas emboli (Patient B), which were demonstrated on imaging. They were successfully treated with HBO and recovered without event. CONCLUSIONS: As demonstrated by both our experience as well as the current literature, HBO has been used to successfully treat gas emboli associated with hydrogen peroxide ingestion. We recommend consideration of HBO in any cases of significant hydrogen peroxide ingestion with a clinical picture compatible with gas emboli.
BACKGROUND:Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly available product and its ingestion has been demonstrated to produce in vivo gas bubbles, which can embolize to devastating effect. OBJECTIVE: We report two cases of hydrogen peroxide ingestion with resultant gas embolization, one to the portal system and one cerebral embolus, which were successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO), and review the literature. CASE REPORT: Two individuals presented to our center after unintentional ingestion of concentrated hydrogen peroxide solutions. Symptoms were consistent with portal gas emboli (Patient A) and cerebral gas emboli (Patient B), which were demonstrated on imaging. They were successfully treated with HBO and recovered without event. CONCLUSIONS: As demonstrated by both our experience as well as the current literature, HBO has been used to successfully treat gas emboli associated with hydrogen peroxide ingestion. We recommend consideration of HBO in any cases of significant hydrogen peroxide ingestion with a clinical picture compatible with gas emboli.