ACUTE MERCURY POISONING: TREATMENT WITH BAL AND IN ANURIC STATES WITH CONTINUOUS PERITONEAL LAVAGE

Abstract

A 17-yr.-old girl was admitted to the Vanderbilt Pediatric Service 5 days after having taken 1 g. of bichloride of mercury. Anuria occurred immediately and was not relieved by the usual methods of treatment. Her peritoneal cavity was irrigated daily with 5-20 1. of a soln. containing NaCl, CaCl2, KC1, NaH2PO4 MgCl2 NaHCO3, dextrose, penicillin and heparin. Renal function was restored after 3 days of peritoneal irrigation (9 days after onset of anuria) and had apparently returned to normal at the time she was discharged. Other therapeutic agents employed were BAL, penicillin, and streptomycin. The treatment of Hg poisoning is discussed in detail and a therapeutic regimen is proposed.