title: Caustic ingestion.
abstract: Corrosive ingestion is a rare but potentially devastating event and, despite the availability of effective preventive public health strategies, injuries continue to occur. Most clinicians have limited personal experience and rely on guidelines; however, uncertainty persists about best clinical practice. Ingestions range from mild cases with no injury to severe cases with full thickness necrosis of the oesophagus and stomach. CT scan is superior to traditional endoscopy for stratification of patients to emergency resection or observation. Oesophageal stricture is a common consequence of ingestion and newer stents show some promise; however, the place of endoscopic stenting for corrosive strictures is yet to be defined. We summarise the evidence to provide a plan for managing these potentially life-threatening injuries and discuss the areas where further research is required to improve outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive and Emergency Surgery, University Hospital of Grenoble, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France. Electronic address: mchirica@chu-grenoble.fr.
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chirica
authors.affiliation: University of Milan Medical School, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonavina
authors.affiliation: Acute Surgical Unit, Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive and Endocrine Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sarfati
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive and Endocrine Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cattan
mesh_terms: D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002424:Caustics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D019468:Disease Management; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013270:Stomach / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057832:Watchful Waiting
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics