[Intestinal edema caused by ingested formalin].

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.