Corrosive Myocardial Injury: A Rare Presentation of Hydrochloric Acid Poisoning—A Case Report

Ingestion of acid-containing household products is a common cause of corrosive poisoning, particularly in cases of intentional self-harm.Most signs and symptoms are related to the digestive tract, but cardiac involvement following acid ingestion is rare.We present the case of a 31-yearold who arrived at the emergency department following an alleged ingestion of hydrochloric acid.On arrival, she was hypotensive and required immediate hemodynamic support.Further evaluation, including echocardiography, revealed myocarditis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.In the emergency intensive care unit (ICU), the patient was given vasopressors along with supportive therapy for heart failure.Over the course of hospitalization, her cardiac function showed gradual improvement, and she was discharged in a hemodynamically stable condition.This case highlights myocarditis as an unusual but potentially reversible complication of hydrochloric acid ingestion.Although gastrointestinal injuries are often the focus of acid poisoning, emergency physicians should also consider cardiac complications, especially in patients presenting with hemodynamic instability.Awareness of this rare manifestation is essential for prompt diagnosis and effective supportive management.This case emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing corrosive poisonings and suggests that early recognition and treatment of cardiac involvement can lead to favorable outcomes.