A 22‑year‑old man in China tried to beat the heat by consuming roughly 1.5 L of Coca‑Cola within ten minutes. Within a few hours he was rushed to Beijing’s Chaoyang Hospital with severe stomach pain and a noticeably swollen abdomen.
Sudden Deterioration
Upon admission, clinicians noted a rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, and dangerously low blood pressure. Blood work revealed ischemic hepatitis – commonly referred to as shock liver, a critical condition that arises when the liver receives insufficient blood and oxygen.
The team attributed the hepatic injury to a sudden surge of carbon dioxide gas from the soda, which is thought to have entered a major hepatic vessel, impairing its flow.
Aggressive Medical Intervention
Physicians promptly began supportive therapy aimed at halting further liver damage. A repeat imaging study twelve hours later still showed extensive areas of liver necrosis despite intensive care.
Unable to recover, the young man died approximately 18 hours after his arrival. The case highlights that he had been healthy before the incident, underscoring the potentially fatal danger of ingesting an extreme quantity of carbonated drinks in a short span.
