Mercury Poisoning From Application to Omphalocele

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