• Sung Hoon Mun, Gwan Jin Park, Ji Han Lee, Young Min Kim, Hyun Seok Chai, and Sang Chul Kim.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea 776, 1st Sunwhan-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Feb 18; 101 (7): e28810e28810.

RationaleSodium nitrite intoxication reportedly causes severe methemoglobinemia. Recent studies reported that most clinically significant cases resulted from intentional exposure in suicidal attempts. We describe 2 cases of severe methemoglobinemia secondary to intentional sodium nitrite intoxication in suicidal attempts.Patients ConcernsA 26-year-old man and 20-year-old woman attempted suicide by taking sodium nitrite, and were brought to the emergency department.DiagnosisThe male patient collapsed at the scene. He ingested approximately 18 g of sodium nitrate, and his methemoglobin level was 90.3%. The female patient was conscious, but was cyanotic. She ingested approximately 12.5 g of sodium nitrite, and her methemoglobin level was 54.6%.InterventionsThe male patient received advanced cardiac life support in the emergency department. Methylene blue was immediately administered for the female patient.OutcomesThe male patient died despite aggressive resuscitation. The female patient's cyanosis resolved, and her methemoglobin level decreased to 1.2% 3 hours later.LessonsThe immediate administration of methylene blue in severe methemoglobinemia patients prevented fatal consequences. The public should be informed about the accessibility and toxicity of sodium nitrite.Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

15 keywords...

hide…