Chemical decontamination in the emergency department

Nogué S, Amigó M, Uría E, Fernández F, Velasco V

Exposure to chemicals harmful to the skin and/or eyes is a common reason for seeking

emergency care. Our aim was to describe the characteristics of patients treated in the

chemical decontamination unit of an area referral hospital. This 18-month descriptive

observational study evaluated the epidemiologic, toxicologic, clinical, and therapeutic

characteristics of cases treated by a chemical decontamination unit within an emergency

department. Thirty-six patients with a mean (SD) age of 42.8 (16.7) years were

identified; 24 (66.7%) were women. The chemical products involved were usually

caustic substances (52.8%), solvents or degreasers (19.4%), glues (13.9%), or selfdefense

sprays (8.3%). Accidents in the home (41.7%) or workplace (36.1%) were the

most common reasons for chemical contamination; violent attacks accounted for 8.3%

of the cases and there was 1 suicide attempt. The eye (75%), skin (19.4%) or both (2

cases) were affected. The patient who committed suicide injured his face when ingesting

sulfuric acid and died a few hours later. First aid consisted of rinsing with water, water

and soap, or diphoterine. Follow-up eye care was given to all patients whose eyes were

contaminated; 3 patients reported persistent eye symptoms. One patient reported a

residual skin lesion.

Amigó M, Fernández F, Nogué S, Uría E, Velasco V