From the Research
Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) exposure can cause serious lung injury and should be treated as a medical emergency, with immediate administration of oxygen therapy and consideration of mechanical ventilation in severe cases, as supported by the most recent study 1. The goals of initial management are to ensure that the airway allows adequate oxygenation and ventilation and to avoid ventilator-induced lung injury, as highlighted in 2. Key considerations in managing muriatic acid exposure include:
- Moving the patient to fresh air and seeking emergency medical attention immediately
- Administering oxygen therapy to quickly reverse hypoxia
- Considering mechanical ventilation in severe cases to support respiratory function
- Using corticosteroids like methylprednisolone to reduce inflammation, as suggested in the example answer
- Administering bronchodilators such as albuterol to ease breathing, as mentioned in the example answer
- Monitoring for long-term complications, including pulmonary fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, or reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, as noted in the example answer.
The severity of lung injury from muriatic acid exposure depends on factors such as concentration, duration of exposure, and whether the space was enclosed, as implied in 3. Surfactant therapy has been shown to improve lung function and attenuate inflammation in animal models of ARDS induced by hydrochloric acid aspiration, as demonstrated in 1. Early partial liquid ventilation may also increase survival after extended acid-induced lung injury, as suggested in 4. However, the most recent and highest-quality study 1 prioritizes surfactant therapy as a potential treatment for experimental ARDS.
In terms of specific treatment protocols, the use of surfactant therapy, such as poractant alfa, may be considered to restore lung function in severe cases of ARDS induced by muriatic acid exposure, as supported by 1. Additionally, mechanical ventilation should be considered if any of the following signs exist: respiratory distress, stridor, hypoventilation, use of accessory respiratory muscles, blistering or edema of the oropharynx, or deep burns to the face or neck, as highlighted in 2. Overall, the management of muriatic acid exposure requires prompt and aggressive treatment to minimize lung injury and prevent long-term complications.