A 12-year-old Bengaluru girl's encounter with liquid nitrogen paan, which seemed enjoyable at first, turned into a terrifying experience after she consumed the paan during a wedding reception and ended up with a hole in her stomach. The young girl was taken to Narayana Multispecialty Hospital in HSR Layout after complaining of a severe stomach ache. There, medical professionals determined that she had perforation peritonitis, a dangerous condition caused by a stomach hole.
Dr. Vijay HS, a surgical gastroenterologist at Narayana Health, explained that the girl had a necrotic patch, or a dead patch, measuring 4x5 cm on her stomach's lesser curvature. This damage was attributed to the consumption of liquid nitrogen, which can cause severe burns and expansion-related injuries inside the body. The rapid vaporization of liquid nitrogen in an enclosed space generates immense force, which can lead to life-threatening conditions like perforation.
The hospital team immediately decided on surgery to prevent further complications. During the procedure, a 4x5 cm section of the girl's stomach was removed. Dr. Vijay HS highlighted that the extreme cold of liquid nitrogen, which is around -190 to -200 degrees Celsius, can cause a cold burn, damaging tissue similarly to a thermal burn. Additionally, liquid nitrogen expands significantly when it vaporizes, with 1 gram expanding up to 600–700 ml of gas. This expansion can create pressure that the body cannot handle, leading to perforations.
The girl underwent an exploratory laparotomy with intra-operative esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD), a procedure that uses a flexible tube with a camera to examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Fortunately, only one necrotic patch was found and removed. She spent two days in the ICU and was discharged after six days.
Doctors emphasized the dangers of liquid nitrogen in food and called for increased awareness and caution. Liquid nitrogen, used for its dramatic visual effects in trendy foods, poses significant health risks if not handled properly. Inhaling its vapors can cause breathing difficulties, and direct contact can result in severe burns.
The incidence is not uncommon. Similar incidents have been recorded all over India, including a 2017 occurrence in Gurugram where a man had a cocktail infused with liquid nitrogen and had to have part of his stomach removed. These cases highlight the potential dangers of using liquid nitrogen in culinary applications.
In response to these incidents, the Tamil Nadu government has banned the use of liquid nitrogen in foods. However, there is no such ban in Karnataka, though the state health department has urged food safety officers to take action against its misuse under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Liquid nitrogen is commonly used in the food industry for its rapid freezing capabilities and dramatic visual effects, but its extreme cold temperature can cause serious harm. It is essential for consumers to be aware of these risks and for food handlers to prioritize safety.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
