Background: Corrosive gastrointestinal tract injuries are a source of considerable morbidity all over the world and differ in their presentations.

Methods: This study was done on 58 patients with history of acute corrosive injury with a period of 24 hours of ingestion presenting to the Intensive care ward and reviewed by the Institute of Medical Gastroenterology Madras Medical College within a period of one year from December 2017 to November 2018. A detailed history was recorded and patients were analyzed on the basis of age, sex, mode of ingestion, intention of consumption, nature of corrosive and clinical symptoms. UGI endoscopy was also done within 24 to 48 hours of admission. The patients were serially followed up and subjected to repeat UGI endoscopy after 6 weeks and the results were analyzed.

Results: Based on this study the incidence of corrosive ingestion was higher in males 67% (n=39) than females 33% (n=19). The most common intention of corrosive ingestion was suicidal found in 71% (n=41) and only 29% (n=17) were accidental. Acid ingestion was more common than alkali ingestion. Chest pain and dysphagia were the most common symptoms at presentation. On UGI scopy, 14 had grade 0, 9 have grade 1, 22 have grade 2 and 13 have grade 3 degree of corrosive injuries based on Zargar classification. On follow up 3 were lost to follow up, 2 patients expired, all patients with endoscopic grading up to grade 2a were managed conservatively, esophageal dilatation was done in 15 patients, surgical management including esophageactomy in 2 cases and gastrojejunostomy in 2 cases was done. 3 patients were subjected to feeding jejunostomy for nutritional management.

Conclusions: Corrosive injury of the upper gastrointestinal tract is a common problem with variable clinical presentations. Acid injury is more common in developing countries like India. The depth of injury is the most important determinant of the outcome. Early endoscopy is

helpful in assessing the extent of injury. Nutritional support is given by total parenteral nutrition and feeding jejunostomy in grade 2B and 3A injuries. Intraluminal stents may be effective in the prevention of stricture but require endoscopic experience. Nasogastric tube and antibiotics have no role in preventing stricture. Endoscopic dilatation is the treatment of choice for esophageal stricture and gastric outlet obstruction. Surgery is recommended in patients who have a high grade of injury, refractory to endoscopic dilatation and who develop complications