Caustic ingestion

Caustic ingestion
SpecialtyGastroenterology, Intensive care medicine, Pulmonology
SymptomsPain, drooling, vomiting, bleeding, mouth and tongue swelling, eye irritation[1]
ComplicationsEsophageal stricture, esophageal cancer, aspiration pneumonia[1][2]
Usual onsetImmediate
PreventionSafe storage of caustic substances[3]
TreatmentSurgery, medications, observation [1]

Caustic ingestion occurs when someone accidentally or deliberately ingests a caustic or corrosive substance. Depending on the nature of the substance, the duration of exposure and other factors it can lead to varying degrees of damage to the oral mucosa, the esophagus, and the lining of the stomach.[4]

The severity of the injury can be determined by endoscopy of the upper digestive tract, although CT scanning may be more useful to determine whether surgery may be required.[4]

During the healing process, strictures of the oesophagus may form, which may require therapeutic dilatation and insertion of a stent.[4]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Hoffman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hall was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rafeey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Chirica, Mircea; Bonavina, Luigi; Kelly, Michael D; Sarfati, Emile; Cattan, Pierre (2017). "Caustic ingestion". The Lancet. 389 (10083): 2041–2052. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30313-0. PMID 28045663. S2CID 3070364.