Outcome of Corrosive Injury in Tertiary Care Hospital Predicted By Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Abstract Back groundThe ingestion of corrosive substances produces various spectrum injuries in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The clinical features and outcome depends upon the extent of damage caused by the corrosive substances. We can assess the severity of the injury according to Zargar classification in patients admitted with corrosive ingestion within 24 hours of admission can predicts the outcome.MATERIALS METHODSRetrospective analysis of records of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy of 135 patients who have consumed corrosive ingestion from May 2011 to September 2012, in the Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Madras medical college, ChennaiRESULTSTotal number of patients were135. (M F -11) .78 patients consumed acid and 57 had consumed alkali. Endoscopy could not be done in 10 patients .4 of them were hemodynamically unstable and 3patients did not cooperate for the procedure in 2 patients not able to intubate due edema at cricopharynx. One patient died due to perforation. Endoscopic analysis of 125 patients revealed the following grades of injuries.Endoscopy was normal in 38, revealed mild injury in 47, severe injury in 40 patients. The severely injured were managed with Naso gastric (36) and nasojejunal (4) patients. Follow up endoscopy done in 40 patients showed normal study in 27 patients, single stricture amenable to endotherapy in 9 and complex narrowing in 4 patients, referred for surgical consultation.Conclusion We conclude that early endoscopy is a safe, reliable, and accurate diagnostic tool in patients with acute corrosive injury. It has prognostic and therapeutic implications.