Gastric Necrosis because of Ingestion of Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride is a relatively harmless chemical that is frequently used as a dehumidifying agent. However, there have been rare reports that the accidental ingestion of this substance can cause gastric necrosis. We describe such a case of gastric necrosis in a 66-year-old woman who had accidentally ingested calcium chloride. Our findings indicate that the gastric necrosis in this patient was probably attributable to heat generated by the calcium chloride solution in the stomach. When ingested in large amounts, calcium chloride thus has the potential to cause gastric necrosis.