title: The Damage Pattern to the Gastrointestinal Tract Depends on the Nature of the Ingested Caustic Agent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanisms of damage to the gastrointestinal tract after caustic ingestion are conditioned by the nature of the ingested agent. Whether the nature of the ingested agent has a direct influence on patient outcomes is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2013 to April 2015, 144 patients underwent emergency management for caustic injuries at the Saint Louis Hospital in Paris. There were 51 men (51 %) and the median age was 44 years [39, 48]. The ingested agents were soda-based strong alkali in 85 patients (59 %), strong acids in 36 patients (25 %), and bleach in 23 patients (16 %). Emergency and long-term outcomes were compared according to the nature of the ingested agent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients died (3 %) and 40 patients (28 %) experienced complications. After bleach ingestion, emergency morbidity and mortality were nil, no patient required esophageal reconstruction, and functional outcome was successful in all patients. Acids were more likely to induce transmural gastric (31 vs. 13 %, p =0.042) and duodenal (9 vs. 0 %, p = 0.04) necrosis than strong alkalis, but rates of transmural esophageal necrosis were similar (14 vs. 12 %, p = 0.98). No significant differences were recorded between emergency mortality (9 vs. 1 %, p = 0.15), morbidity (33 vs. 33 %, p = 0.92), the need for esophageal reconstruction (25 vs. 20 %, p = 0.88), and functional success rates (76 vs. 84 %, p = 0.31) after acid and alkali ingestion, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bleach causes mild gastrointestinal injuries, while the ingestion of strong acids and alkalis may result in severe complications and death. Acids cause more severe damage to the stomach but similar damage to the esophagus when compared to alkalis.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducoudray
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Corte
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Munoz-Bongrand
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sarfati
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cattan
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Endocrine and Digestive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, APHP, Université Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France. mirceaxx@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chirica
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000468:Alkalies / Q000009:adverse effects; D057886:Bleaching Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002424:Caustics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D013270:Stomach / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D000468:Alkalies; D057886:Bleaching Agents; D002424:Caustics