Acute iron intoxication with intestinal infarction.

A fatal case of acute iron intoxication with intestinal infarction is reported, with emphasis on the acute gastrointestinal effects of iron ingestion. The patient demonstrated the progressive necrotizing effects of retained iron on the gastrointestinal tract. Although moderate amounts of iron may be irritating and may produce diarrhea, larger amounts may cause paralytic ileus. Localized concentrations of iron may then exert corrosive effects and cause segmental infarctions and perforations. Emphasis must be given to the purging of iron products from the bowel. Should surgery become necessary because of localized infarction or perforation, we believe that it is advisable to not only thoroughly irrigate the peritoneal cavity but also irrigate the lumen of the bowel so as to remove as much of the remaining iron as possible, lest further areas of necrosis and perforation develop because of continued corrosive effects.