Hydrochloric acid: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Misc,Ophtho]]

Revision as of 10:11, 3 January 2017

Background

  • Strong acid, causes coagulation necrosis due to denaturation of proteins
  • Most household bleaches are only 3-6% hydrochlorite solutions, but patients may have occupational exposures if working in steel picking, chemical manufacturing, oil/gas-well acidizing, and food processing
  • HCl is combustion product of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), can cause chemical inhalation injury, can persist in air for up to an hour after fire extinguished

Clinical Features

  • Can be systemically absorbed and → metabolic acidosis, hemolysis, AKI
  • Dermal burns
  • Ingestion
    • All patients with serious esophageal injuries have some initial sign/symptom
    • Dysphagia, odynophagia, epigastric pain, vomiting
    • Laryngotracheal injury: dysphonia, stridor, respiratory distress
      • Occurs via aspiration of caustic or vomitus or inhalation of acidic fumes
  • inhalation injury
  • Caustic keratoconjunctivitis
    • Severe eye pain, blepharospasm, reduced visual acuity
    • Altered ocular pH (normal = 7.0-7.2)
    • Conjunctival injection OR blanching, chemosis, hemorrhage, epithelial defects, corneal loss OR edema, perilimbal ischemia (white ring around iris)

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation

Management

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References