A 22‑year‑old man in China tried to beat the heat by downing about 1.5 litres of Coca‑Cola in just ten minutes. Within a few hours he was rushed to Chaoyang Hospital in Beijing, clutching his stomach as severe pain and a pronounced belly swelling set in.
Sudden Clinical Deterioration
Upon arrival, doctors noted a tachycardic pulse, shallow breathing, and dangerously low blood pressure. Blood work revealed ischemic hepatitis – commonly referred to as shock liver, a life‑threatening condition that arises when the liver receives insufficient oxygen and blood flow.
The emergency team traced the hepatic insult to a rapid accumulation of carbon dioxide gas from the soda. The gas is thought to have entered a major hepatic vessel, obstructing circulation and precipitating the injury.
Aggressive Life‑Saving Measures
Intensive supportive therapy was started immediately, aiming to stop further liver damage. A repeat imaging study twelve hours after admission showed widespread liver necrosis despite the vigorous interventions.
Unable to recover, the young man succumbed roughly 18 hours after he was admitted. The case highlights that the patient had been healthy before the incident, underscoring the potentially fatal hazards of consuming extreme quantities of carbonated drinks in a short span.
