Liquid ammonia injury

The toxic effects of a gas depend on the time of exposure, concentration an d its chemical nature. Pressurized liquids and gases exert an additional co ld thermal injury and this may complicate the clinical picture. A patient w ho had an accidental exposure to liquid ammonia over a prolonged period, ma nifesting in cutaneous, respiratory and ocular damage in addition to a seve re cold thermal injury (Frostbite) with a fatal outcome is presented. The p atient had flaccid quadriparesis and episodes of bradycardia, which has not been reported previously. These manifestations raise the possibility of th e systemic toxicity in patients with prolonged exposure to ammonia. (C) 200 0 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.