A Clinical Study on the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Injury Caused by Corrosive Agent.
- Author:
Kyoung Won YOON
1
;
Min Ho PARK
;
Geun Soo PARK
;
Phil Jin JUNG
;
Young Eun JOO
;
Hyun Soo KIM
;
Jong Sun REW
;
Sei Jong KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea. jsrew@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Corrosive agent;
Corrosive injury
- MeSH:
Acetic Acid;
Anti-Bacterial Agents;
Chest Pain;
Constriction, Pathologic;
Deglutition Disorders;
Dyspnea;
Eating;
Esophageal Stenosis;
Esophagus;
Follow-Up Studies;
Gastric Outlet Obstruction;
Gastrointestinal Tract;
Gastroscopy;
Hematuria;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Incidence;
Lye;
Pharyngitis;
Retrospective Studies;
Sulfur;
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract*;
Vomiting
- From:Korean Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
2001;23(2):82-87
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The incidence of corrosive injury has been decreased, compared with past years. However, the ingestion of corrosive agent for suicidal attempt is on an increasing trend. Though corrosive injury on gastrointestinal tract is very common, there are few clinical studies on this field. METHODS: Retrospective study was performed on 48 patients who ingested corrosive agent from 1992 to 1998. The kinds of corrosive agent, cause of ingestion, symptoms, gastroscopic findings, treatment and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common agent of ingestion was acetic acid (47.9%), followed by hydrocholoric acid (18.8%), cresol (10.4%), lye (10.4%), sulfuric acid (4.2%). Ingestion for suicidal attempt (60.4%) was more frequent than accidental ingestion (39.6%). The frequent symptoms were sore throat (31.3%), dysphagia (27.1%), epigastric pain (22.9%), vomiting (18.8%), chest pain (18.8%), GI bleeding (12.5%), dyspnea (12.5%) and hematuria (8.3%). The esophagus was the most common site of corrosive injury and Grade IIa injury was the most frequent finding on gastroscopy. In most cases, prophylactic antibiotics with or without steroid was administered for conservative treatment. For long-term sequelae, there were 7 cases (14.6%) of esophageal stricture, and 2 cases (4.2%) of gastric outlet obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Corrosive injury on gastrointestinal tract is frequently observed on early gastroscopy and can cause significant late sequelae, such as stricture. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate regular follow up gastroscopy for the management of late sequelae.
