title: [Emergency treatment of caustic lesions of the upper digestive tract].
abstract: The role of an early multidisciplinary approach to the management of upper digestive tract caustic lesions in the acute phase is stressed. The accurate evaluation of the lesions through early endoscopy, performed within 24-48 hours of ingestion, is the best means of assessing the degree of injury after caustic ingestion. Massive gastric and/or oesophageal necrosis, tracheoesophageal fistula, massive gastric haemorrhage, gastric and/or duodenal perforation are indications for emergency surgery. Management techniques of acute lesions are controversial because results of the different surgical procedures proposed are not satisfactory. Surgery of complications is mandatory, but up to date morbidity and mortality rates are still high.
authors.affiliation: III Clinica Chirurgica Generale e Terapia Chirurgica, Università degli Studi di Catania.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Consoli
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Portale
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latteri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002424:Caustics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004064:Digestive System / Q000293:injuries*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics