A 22‑year‑old Beijing resident tried to beat the heat on an oppressively hot day by chugging roughly 1.5 liters of Coca‑Cola in just ten minutes. Within a few hours he was rushed to Chaoyang Hospital, clutching his abdomen as his belly ballooned with pain.
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 severe condition that arises when the liver is deprived of adequate blood flow and oxygen.
The team linked the hepatic injury to a rapid accumulation of carbon dioxide gas from the soda, which is thought to have entered a major vessel feeding the liver and disrupted its circulation.
Aggressive Life‑Saving Measures
Immediate supportive therapy was launched to stop further liver damage. A repeat imaging study twelve hours after admission showed extensive areas of liver necrosis despite the intensive care.
Unable to recover, the young man died approximately 18 hours after he was admitted. The case highlights that he had been healthy before the incident, underscoring the potentially fatal risk of consuming an extreme volume of carbonated beverages in a short span.
