Airway obstruction due to ingestion of sodium polyacrylate: a case report
Dublin Core
Title
Airway obstruction due to ingestion of sodium polyacrylate: a case report
Subject
Airways obstruction, Asphyxia, Super-absorbent polymers, Sodium polyacrylate, Foreign body aspiration
Description
Abstract
Background Super-absorbent polymers (SAPs) possess the ability to absorb large amounts of water and are widely
used in medical settings. Commonly used in vomit bags to contain fluids, reduce spillage, and enhance bedside
hygiene, SAPs are generally regarded as safe and non-toxic. However, we report a tragic incident where the accidental
ingestion of SAPs led to fatal asphyxiation, highlighting a critical safety concern.
Case presentation A 76-year-old female suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s dementia was brought to the
emergency department following a fall with cervical trauma. Following a complaint of nausea, she was given a vomit
bag containing a sachet of approximately 9 g of SAP. Thirty minutes later, she was found deceased in the waiting
area, with a grayish, half-hardened gel blocking her oropharynx and remnants of a chewed SAP sachet. Pathological
analysis confirmed death by asphyxiation caused by the SAP expanding in her oropharynx upon contact with saliva.
Conclusions This case emphasizes the potential dangers of SAPs when accidentally ingested and it is imperative that
such products are kept out of reach of vulnerable populations. In cases of airway obstruction, there are no specific
treatments available. Laryngoscopy may be impossible, necessitating the prompt consideration of an emergency
tracheotomy. Experimental data suggest the use of an aerosol of warm alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution to
dissolve these obstructive foreign bodies, but further studies are needed to validate its use in emergency situations.
Keywords Airways obstruction, Asphyxia, Super-absorbent polymers, Sodium polyacrylate, Foreign body aspiration
Background Super-absorbent polymers (SAPs) possess the ability to absorb large amounts of water and are widely
used in medical settings. Commonly used in vomit bags to contain fluids, reduce spillage, and enhance bedside
hygiene, SAPs are generally regarded as safe and non-toxic. However, we report a tragic incident where the accidental
ingestion of SAPs led to fatal asphyxiation, highlighting a critical safety concern.
Case presentation A 76-year-old female suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s dementia was brought to the
emergency department following a fall with cervical trauma. Following a complaint of nausea, she was given a vomit
bag containing a sachet of approximately 9 g of SAP. Thirty minutes later, she was found deceased in the waiting
area, with a grayish, half-hardened gel blocking her oropharynx and remnants of a chewed SAP sachet. Pathological
analysis confirmed death by asphyxiation caused by the SAP expanding in her oropharynx upon contact with saliva.
Conclusions This case emphasizes the potential dangers of SAPs when accidentally ingested and it is imperative that
such products are kept out of reach of vulnerable populations. In cases of airway obstruction, there are no specific
treatments available. Laryngoscopy may be impossible, necessitating the prompt consideration of an emergency
tracheotomy. Experimental data suggest the use of an aerosol of warm alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution to
dissolve these obstructive foreign bodies, but further studies are needed to validate its use in emergency situations.
Keywords Airways obstruction, Asphyxia, Super-absorbent polymers, Sodium polyacrylate, Foreign body aspiration
Creator
Andreas Stalder1
, Youcef Guechi1,2, Claire-Lise Bonnemain1
and Thomas Schmutz1,2*
, Youcef Guechi1,2, Claire-Lise Bonnemain1
and Thomas Schmutz1,2*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00730-1
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Andreas Stalder1
, Youcef Guechi1,2, Claire-Lise Bonnemain1
and Thomas Schmutz1,2*, “Airway obstruction due to ingestion of sodium polyacrylate: a case report,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 25, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12454.