A 22‑year‑old man in China tried to beat the heat by downing roughly 1.5 liters of Coca‑Cola in just ten minutes. Within a few hours he was rushed to Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, clutching his abdomen as his belly swelled dramatically.
Rapid Deterioration
On arrival, clinicians noted a pounding pulse, shallow breathing, and dangerously low blood pressure. Blood work revealed ischemic hepatitis – commonly known as shock liver, a condition that arises when the liver receives insufficient blood and oxygen.
The team traced the injury to a sudden surge of carbon dioxide gas from the soda, which they believe entered a major hepatic vessel, obstructing circulation and triggering the liver’s collapse.
Intensive Rescue Attempts
Emergency physicians launched aggressive supportive therapy aimed at halting further liver damage. A repeat imaging study twelve hours after admission showed widespread necrosis despite the intensive measures.
Unfortunately, the young man could not recover and died about 18 hours after his arrival. The case underscores that he had been perfectly healthy before the incident, highlighting the potentially lethal consequences of consuming extreme quantities of carbonated drinks in a short span.
