A patient who is poisoned with a phospide compound can rarely undergo spontaneous self-ignition.
Phosphide compounds react with moisture or gastric acid to produce phosphine gase (PH3).A patient with achlorhydria may be at reduced risk.
Phosphine gas is flammable and can self-ignite if:
(1) the concentration of the gas is high enough
(2) the gas is exposed to heat
(3) there is a change in pressure
In the Emergency Department reports of self-ignition are associated during insertion of a nasogastric tube into the stomach with release of the phosphine gas produced in the stomach.
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