Saving a woman in critical condition after eating puffer fish

Doctors at Quang Nam Central General Hospital have just saved the life of a female patient in critical condition due to poisoning after eating puffer fish.

After undergoing blood filtration and adsorption, the patient with puffer fish poisoning gradually stabilized and received intensive treatment - Photo: HUAN BUI

The patient is Mrs. PTM (51 years old, residing in Binh Son district, Quang Ngai ). According to information from her family, on the afternoon of March 3, Mrs. M. prepared and ate puffer fish at home.

Not long after that, she showed signs of fatigue, drowsiness, and vomiting, and was taken to the emergency room.

Doctors quickly determined that the patient was severely poisoned, at risk of leading to acute respiratory failure.

The patient was then given gastric lavage, activated charcoal, and transferred to the intensive care and anti-poison department for close monitoring.

After about 5 hours, the patient's condition worsened with symptoms such as respiratory muscle weakness, deep coma, and urinary disorders.

Doctors decided to intubate, support ventilation, and filter blood to remove toxins. After 6 hours of blood filtration, the patient began to regain consciousness, and his consciousness improved significantly.

After treatment, Mrs. M.'s health gradually stabilized and her breathing tube was removed. However, due to signs of fever and the risk of pneumonia from inhaling toxic substances during vomiting, her hospital stay was prolonged.

On March 6, the patient was transferred to the internal medicine department for continued treatment and was discharged on March 11.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diem, Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poison, Quang Nam Central General Hospital, puffer fish contains the toxin tetrodotoxin, which is concentrated in the skin, liver, intestines, especially the testicles and ovaries. If not prepared properly, people who eat it are at high risk of poisoning.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuu-song-nguoi-phu-nu-nguy-kich-do-an-ca-noc-20250311103936992.htm