Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case report
Acute barium poisoning is a rare but life-threatening method of suicide attempt, and it is a challenging disease in the emergency department. We report a case of barium carbonate poisoning in a 21-year-old man who ingested a large dose to attempt suicide and presented with gastrointestinal symptoms,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X241311316 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850151502365065216 |
|---|---|
| author | Waiian Leong Chunlian Li Yuhui Long Yanli Wang Abraham KC Wai Yi Huang Feilung Lau |
| author_facet | Waiian Leong Chunlian Li Yuhui Long Yanli Wang Abraham KC Wai Yi Huang Feilung Lau |
| author_sort | Waiian Leong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Acute barium poisoning is a rare but life-threatening method of suicide attempt, and it is a challenging disease in the emergency department. We report a case of barium carbonate poisoning in a 21-year-old man who ingested a large dose to attempt suicide and presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, gradual muscular weakness, and severe hypokalemia (K + 1.63 mmol/L). He was promptly managed with gastric lavage, respiratory support, and large doses of oral and intravenous potassium supplementation. In addition, intravenous sodium thiosulfate and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration were administered to reduce the serum concentration of barium ions. Following comprehensive treatment, the patient recovered within 5 days and discharged home for 12 days. Clinicians should be vigilant when a patient presents gastrointestinal symptoms and limb weakness, associated with severe hypokalemia and cardiac arrhythmia over a short disease course as these may indicate potential barium poisoning. Furthermore, we advocate for paying more attention to the management of toxic substances and the mental health education of young adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a36ae7db26a6405ead8c69fc331a4b2d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2050-313X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a36ae7db26a6405ead8c69fc331a4b2d2025-08-20T02:26:14ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medical Case Reports2050-313X2025-01-011310.1177/2050313X241311316Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case reportWaiian Leong0Chunlian Li1Yuhui Long2Yanli Wang3Abraham KC Wai4Yi Huang5Feilung Lau6Department of Accident & Emergency, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Accident & Emergency, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Accident & Emergency, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Accident & Emergency, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Accident & Emergency, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Accident & Emergency, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Accident & Emergency, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaAcute barium poisoning is a rare but life-threatening method of suicide attempt, and it is a challenging disease in the emergency department. We report a case of barium carbonate poisoning in a 21-year-old man who ingested a large dose to attempt suicide and presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, gradual muscular weakness, and severe hypokalemia (K + 1.63 mmol/L). He was promptly managed with gastric lavage, respiratory support, and large doses of oral and intravenous potassium supplementation. In addition, intravenous sodium thiosulfate and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration were administered to reduce the serum concentration of barium ions. Following comprehensive treatment, the patient recovered within 5 days and discharged home for 12 days. Clinicians should be vigilant when a patient presents gastrointestinal symptoms and limb weakness, associated with severe hypokalemia and cardiac arrhythmia over a short disease course as these may indicate potential barium poisoning. Furthermore, we advocate for paying more attention to the management of toxic substances and the mental health education of young adults.https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X241311316 |
| spellingShingle | Waiian Leong Chunlian Li Yuhui Long Yanli Wang Abraham KC Wai Yi Huang Feilung Lau Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case report SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| title | Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case report |
| title_full | Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case report |
| title_fullStr | Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case report |
| title_short | Non-fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion: A case report |
| title_sort | non fatal acute barium carbonate poisoning following suicidal ingestion a case report |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X241311316 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT waiianleong nonfatalacutebariumcarbonatepoisoningfollowingsuicidalingestionacasereport AT chunlianli nonfatalacutebariumcarbonatepoisoningfollowingsuicidalingestionacasereport AT yuhuilong nonfatalacutebariumcarbonatepoisoningfollowingsuicidalingestionacasereport AT yanliwang nonfatalacutebariumcarbonatepoisoningfollowingsuicidalingestionacasereport AT abrahamkcwai nonfatalacutebariumcarbonatepoisoningfollowingsuicidalingestionacasereport AT yihuang nonfatalacutebariumcarbonatepoisoningfollowingsuicidalingestionacasereport AT feilunglau nonfatalacutebariumcarbonatepoisoningfollowingsuicidalingestionacasereport |