Mercury Poisoning From Application to Omphalocele

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To the Editor.— In 1957, Grob of Zurich recommended painting the exposed sac of an omphalocele with merbromin (Mercurochrome).1We employed this treatment for a giant omphalocele in a newborn, only to have the patient die of mercury poisoning. While this appears to be an infrequent occurrence, this potentially fatal means of treatment should be reported. Report of a Case.— The patient was a 5 lb 8 oz black infant born to a gravida 1, para 0, O-positive, 28-year-old mother with normal results of serologic tests, at 36 weeks gestation. A giant omphalocele was present with an intact sac, and the base measured 5 × 6 cm. The distance from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis was 9 × 6 cm. The liver was within the omphalocele as well as were most of the intestines. The abdominal cavity appeared extremely small. Aside from bilateral undescended testicles all was

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: