Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (Jan 2015)

Corrosive Injury of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract: Review of Surgical Management and Outcome in 14 Adult Cases

  • Mohammad Taghi Rajabi,
  • Ghodratollah Maddah,
  • Reza Bagheri,
  • Mostafa Mehrabi,
  • Hossein Shabahang,
  • Farjad Lorestani

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 1
pp. 15 – 21

Abstract

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Introduction: Caustic ingestion is responsible for a spectrum of upper gastrointestinal tract injury from self-limited to perforation. This study conducted to evaluate clinical characteristics as well as surgical outcomes in patients with caustic ingestion. Materials and Methods: Between Nov1993 to march 2011, 14 adults with a clinical evidence of corrosive ingestion were admitted into our institutions (Omid and Ghaem hospitals). Patients evaluated for etiology of erosion, location, type of surgery, morbidity and mortality after surgery. Results: 14 patients (10men and 4 women) with a age range between18-53 years were evaluated. In 6 patients, the injury was accidental and in 8 patients ingestion was a suicide attempt. Ingested agent included nitric acid in 4 patients, hydrochloric acid in 7 patients, sulfuric acid in 2 patients and strong alkali in one patient. The location and extent of lesion varied included esophagus in 13 cases, stomach in 7 cases and the pharynx in 3 cases. Acute abdomen was developed In 2 patients and a procedure of total gasterectomy and blunt esophagectomy was performed. In the remaining patients, substernal esophageal bypass in 2 patients, esophageal resection and replacement surgery in 9 patients and gastroenterostomy in one patient performed to relieve esophageal stricture. Two patients died of mediastinitis after esophageal replacement surgery. Postoperative strictures were developed in 2 survived patients with hypopharyngeal reconstruction that was managed by per oral bougienage in one patient and KTP Laser and stenting in the other patient. Conclusion: Esophageal resection with replacement was safe and good technique for severe corrosive esophageal stricture with low mortality and morbidity.

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