Pneumomediastinum complicating accidental ingestion of HCl: A case study

Accidental ingestion of hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a medical emergency associated with significant morbidity due to its corrosive effects on the upper digestive tract. Pneumomediastinum, although rare, is one of its potentially severe complications. It is defined as the presence of air within the mediastinum and typically results from esophageal or gastric perforation caused by caustic injury. Clinical manifestations may include chest pain, dyspnea, dysphagia, and subcutaneous emphysema. Diagnosis relies on imaging, with computed tomography (CT) being the most sensitive modality. Management requires urgent multidisciplinary care, including stabilization, early endoscopic assessment, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and surgical intervention when perforation is identified. Prognosis is largely dependent on early diagnosis and timely therapeutic intervention. We report a rare case of pneumomediastinum complicating accidental HCl ingestion.