Severe lead poisoning caused by an ingested fishing weight
Lászlóffy, M.; Keszei, N.; Kákosy, T.; Soós, G.; Hudák, A.; Náray, M.
Orvosi Hetilap 139(16): 963-965
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 9595931 Document Number: 495392
Authors describe the case-history of a 17 year old male who accidentally ingested a fishing weight that was retained in the stomach and caused a serious lead poisoning. It is worth mentioning that beside the wellknown symptoms and signs of lead intoxication also the liver was seriously affected. The histologically verified toxic lesion of the liver presumably can be attributed to the large quantities of lead absorbed within a short period. This also explains the appearance of symptoms and signs indicating to encephalopathy beside the young age of the patient. The foreign body could not be removed by means of gastroscopy, therefore a gastrotomy was carried out followed by chelating treatment with i.v. CaNa2EDTA that resulted in complete clinical and laboratory recovery. The case history draws the attention to the importance of the quick removal of the retained lead containing objects out of the gastrointestinal tract.