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Hydrofluoric acid (HFA) is commonly used and many injuries occur on the upper extremities following exposure to HFA. The use of calcium gluconate (CG) -containing gel or local injections of CG are widely used for the initial treatment of HFA exposure. However, severe pain continues in some cases despite the treatment. There was a report that trans-arterial CG infusion could improve HFA burns, however, such treatment is not an established clinical procedure. A 30-year-old male presented at our hospital with severe pain in his left thumb. He had been cleaning tiles with an HFA-containing detergent. We diagnosed him with a chemical burn due to HFA exposure. Local CG injections were tried several times, but his terrible pain continued. Therefore, a direct arterial sphygmomanometry line was inserted from the left radial artery, and continuous transarterial CG injection was performed. His terrible pain dramatically improved. Direct arterial sphygmomanometry systems are widely used in the critical care field to monitor the hemodynamics and ICU staffs are used to dealing with it. Moreover, continuous saline infusion prevents the tube obstruction. Continuous CG infusion from a direct arterial sphygmomanometry line is simple and safe way to administer CG in HFA burns.

A 37-year-old female presented with acute chlorpromazine and phenobarbital poisoning. Contrast enhanced abdominal CT on admission revealed a high density area at the gastric fundus and residual drugs were suspected. Activated charcoal and cathartics were administered following the gastric lavage under the intubation. As the plasma concentration of phenobarbital was high, urinary alkalinization and crystalloid infusion were carried out to reduce it. However, at 3 days after admission, the plasma concentration level had increased and the consciousness disturbance and respiratory depression continued. Abdominal CT was performed again and bezoars formation was suspected. Endoscopy was carried out to remove the bezoars. After the removal, the plasma concentration level significantly decreased. Her consciousness disturbance and respiratory depression also improved and high density area at the gastric fundus disappeared. Acute endoscopy is seldom advocated in cases of drug overdose. However, aggressive endoscopic removal should be considered in the case of acute poisoning of drugs with form bezoars.

A 65-yr-old man treated for depression was transferred to our hospital. He ingested over 150 ml of formalin for suicidal attempt. On admission, he was hypotensive, developing acute renal failure and liver dysfunction. During first 36 hours, he needed 21 l of lactate Ringer solutions to maintain enough urination. The abdominal computed tomography showed obvious edema of intestine and endoscopic findings of the upper digestive tract were corrosive erosions. We started proton pump inhibiter on the first day. After a week, they changed in many ulcers with smooth-surfaced elevation on the greater curvature of the stomach. On the 15th hospitalized day, he was discharged from our hospital without sequelae. Formalin consists of forty percent solution of formaldehyde and methanol. Ingestion of formaldehyde may cause burning in the digestive systems and harmful effect to major organ such as kidney or liver. Although previous reports said that formalin has direct toxicity to major organs, we could discharge him without sequelae by treatment with large amount of fluid resuscitation.