“`html
Liquid nitrogen is generally safe for artistic presentation in cuisine; however, the compound can present some level of hazard.(Image credit: golubovy via Getty Images)ShareShare by:
- Copy link
- X
Share this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter
The subject: A man of 34 years in Mexico
The signs: Almost immediately after sipping a “foggy” alcoholic drink at a pub, the individual felt an intense discomfort in his abdomen.
You may like
-
A woman’s self-made juice resulted in hazardous ‘toxic squash syndrome’
-
An otherwise healthy man suffered a stroke following consumption of 8 ‘high-potency’ energy beverages daily
-
A man’s muscles appeared oddly contorted. Physicians noticed they were losing calcium into his circulatory system.
The subject indicated feeling soreness and sensitivity when the medical staff touched his torso in multiple spots. This showed that the pain was generalized as opposed to being limited to a singular organ as is often observed with ailments like appendicitis.
The man stated to the doctors that the beverage he consumed was enriched with liquid nitrogen, and the doctors surmised that the chemical had breached the man’s stomach. As liquid nitrogen heats up and becomes gaseous, its volume grows by around 700-fold. Given the significant difference in temperature between the liquid, at minus 351 F (minus 196 C), and the man’s body, the substance might have swiftly converted into a gas, the doctors noted in the report of the man’s condition, thereby causing the stomach to burst similar to an overinflated balloon.
In order to find out whether the man’s stomach had been punctured, the doctors listened for indications of air as they tapped his abdomen. Specific sections of the abdomen, for example the stomach, typically have air and create a high-pitched, “tympanic” sound when tapped. In contrast, more dense organs or those with fluids, like the liver resting above the stomach, make a low-pitched, “dull” noise. In this instance, though, the complete abdomen was tympanic, including the area over the stomach.
The diagnosis: Afterward, the medical staff examined the patient’s soft tissue via CT scanning. From these scans, they spotted a deposit of trapped nitrogen gas within the patient’s abdominal area, just above his stomach and beneath his lungs — a state known as pneumoperitoneum. This verified that the gas had ruptured the man’s stomach and gathered on top of it.
The treatment: The medical team created a tiny, keyhole opening in the patient’s abdomen that permitted the escape of the confined nitrogen gas. They then put in place a laparoscope — a slim tube containing a camera — through the keyhole and into the stomach so as to locate and repair the rupture. Finally, using some fatty tissue from another part of the patient’s abdominal area, they stitched up and sealed the 1.2-inch-wide (3 centimeters) gap.
The patient recovered swiftly and was released after three days, once he showed he could endure a liquid diet, as the doctors specified in the report.
What renders the case special: Further than bursting the stomach, liquid nitrogen that is taken in prior to full evaporation from food or drink is able to induce lasting cold burns inside the body, since the substance freezes water inside human cells and harms the tissue.
You may like
-
A woman’s self-made juice resulted in hazardous ‘toxic squash syndrome’
-
An otherwise healthy man suffered a stroke following consumption of 8 ‘high-potency’ energy beverages daily
-
A man’s muscles appeared oddly contorted. Physicians noticed they were losing calcium into his circulatory system.
Fortunately, the patient didn’t undergo any cold burns inside his oral cavity, esophagus or stomach. The doctors thought this was due to the “Leidenfrost effect,” which is a physical occurrence outlining how a fluid acts when it encounters a plane considerably hotter compared to its boiling temp. The outermost surface of the liquid is instantly vaporized, briefly preserving the warm surface (in this situation, human tissue) from the remaining cold fluid. This protective gas layer may shed light on why the liquid nitrogen didn’t burn the man when it passed through his gullet.
OTHER DILEMMAS
—A man who couldn’t urinate was infected by one of the largest documented human parasites
—Following an operation, a 17-year-old was able to speak solely in a foreign language
—A knife snapped inside a man’s chest, and he was unaware of it for 8 years
Liquid nitrogen sees frequent use in food prep. By way of example, instantly freezing meat with the substance shields its protein arrangement and maintains its moisture with greater efficiency than other freezing means. It can also preserve lipids in seafood and aid in keeping its taste. Nonetheless, by the point when these edibles reach the dining table, they pose no harm because the nitrogen has completely dissipated.
Decking out food and drink with liquid nitrogen in order to create a foggy, dramatic look could be dangerous if hasty eaters ingest those items before the liquid fully transforms to a gas. Because of this, it is encouraged to hold off until the cloud goes away. Liquid nitrogen is frequently utilized to craft a smoke appearance close to food items, although not in them, therefore cutting down on the risk of harm.
For further gripping medical cases, check out our Diagnostic Dilemma archive.
Disclaimer
This article serves only for informational reasons and isn’t intended to present dietary or medical safety recommendations.
TOPICSDiagnostic dilemma
Kamal NahasSocial Links NavigationLive Science Contributor
Kamal Nahas is a self-employed writer situated in Oxford, U.K. His creations have been seen in The Scientist, Science and New Scientist, amongst many other sources, and he mostly covers studies on health, technology and evolution. He holds a PhD in pathology from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree in immunology from the University of Oxford. He presently functions as a microscopist at the Diamond Light Source, which is the synchrotron for the U.K. Should he not be writing, you can see him searching for fossil remains at the Jurassic Coast.
Show More Comments
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
LogoutRead more
A woman’s self-made juice resulted in hazardous ‘toxic squash syndrome’
An otherwise healthy man suffered a stroke following consumption of 8 ‘high-potency’ energy beverages daily
A man’s muscles appeared oddly contorted. Physicians noticed they were losing calcium into his circulatory system.
A man’s bladder looked like a Christmas tree
Tooth-in-eye surgery, ‘blood chimerism,’ and a pregnancy from oral sex: 12 wild medical cases we covered in 2025
Giant ‘stone’ in a man’s bladder looked like an ostrich egg
Latest in Food & Diet
Is there such a thing as ‘too much’ protein?