Corrosive injuries of upper gastrointestinal tract- Five years experience in tertiary care centre in South India

Dr. A.S. Bharathi Sezhian; Dr. P.Saravana Bhoopathi

Volume : VIII, Issue : II, February - 2019

Corrosive injuries of upper gastrointestinal tract- Five years experience in tertiary care centre in South India

Dr. A. S. Bharathi Sezhian, Dr. P. Saravana Bhoopathi

Abstract :

Introduction: Corrosive ingestion, most commonly acid, is a common form of poisoning in India as it is cheap and easily available. It is associated with dreaded complications.

Aim: To study the endoscopic findings and management in patients with corrosive ingestion in a tertiary referral centre.

Materials & methods: Retrospective, descriptive study of case records of patients with corrosive injury. Endoscopic findings and management were analysed during the study period of 5 years between June 2013 to May 2018.

Results: Out of 130 cases 119 were adults. 123 had endoscopy. Endoscopic findings showed grade 1 corrosive injury in 40.6 %, grade 2a in 46.3% and grade 2b in 13.1% in esophagus. Gastric findings included normal mucsa in 16.3%, grade 1 in 47.1%, grade 2a in 26% and grade 2b and above in 10.8%. Stricture was noted in 14.6 %.

Outcome: Majority were managed conservatively and endoscopic stricture dilatation was required in 10.6% and surgery was done in 4%.

Conclusion: Patients with grade 0, 1 and 2a injuries require observation and can be managed as out–patients, while patients with grade 2b and 3 injuries require hospital admission and are at risk of developing complications.