HYDROGEN-SULFIDE POISONING - MANAGEMENT AND COMPLICATIONS

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning is a rare but devastating injury. Four of 8 cases of toxic inhalation of hydrogen sulfide are presented with spec ial attention to the life-threatening complications. Four patients die d at the scene of the accident and the remaining 4 had been hospitaliz ed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). One patient died in the hospital from cardiogenic pulmonary edema and circulatory failure (pulmonary we dge pressure > 30 mmHg) and 3 patients left the hospital in good healt h although they presented serious complications. One of them left the hospital with a temporary pacemaker, and 1 of the 2 others died after two months owing to myocardial infarction. The authors discuss in deta il the clinical features of this condition and emphasize the need for urgent and appropriate therapy as well as the need for safe environmen tal conditions.