[Life-threatening metabolic acidosis after ingestion of fire extinguisher powder].

We present the case of a 31-year old male with ingestion of fire extinguisher powder in an attempted suicide. After consulting several poison information centres, the intoxication was initially classified as harmless; nevertheless, the patient was admitted to our intensive care unit for cardiopulmonary monitoring. Subsequently, due to the ingestion of ammonium sulphate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate containing powder the patient developed severe metabolic acidosis with distinct electrolyte imbalance that required temporary haemodialysis.