[Current treatment of poisoning by ingestion of caustic substances]

Lesions by ingestion of corrosive substances had so far been treated at the time of sequelae. In the seventies several events modified deeply the epidemiology and the early care of these poisonings. At that time household products like highly concentrated basic and acid substances and oxidizing agents were distributed and led to an increase of the number and the severity of these intoxications. In the same time, fiberoptic endoscopy of the digestive tract played a leading part to evaluate the diagnosis and the prognosis of these poisonings at an early stage, and thus, with accurate intensive care and digestive surgery contributed to generate appropriate guidelines, according to the severity. The first step of the treatment is fasting, fluid replacement and analgesic if required. A full examination must be performed, especially in the throat even if there is no strong correlation between early clinical signs and the severity of the lesions; blood samples must be obtained to look for metabolic acidosis, hyperleukocytosis hemolysis and consumption coagulopathy which could be better indicators of the severity. Fiberoptic endoscopy of the upper digestive tract should be performed as soon as the physical and psychological patient's condition is stable; if possible before the twelfth hour and no more late than the twenty-fourth hour. It should determine the lesions: type, range and grade according to Quincy's classification modified by Mongon and Di Constanzo. Survival and healing of "extremely severe" grade intoxication can only be obtained through a surgical intervention within the first hours; a laparotomy will indicate the depth of the lesions, which is not determined by endoscopy, and will consist of Celerier's stripping method and if necessary a gastrectomy, more seldom a cephalic duodeno-pancreatectomy. Only the surgical excision of necrotic tissues can prevent the occurrence of lethal complications like oesophageal or gastric perforations and septic shocks. The analysis of the literature from 1975 up to now gives us information on the methods and the results of these different therapeutic approaches.