[Impaired gastric acid secretion in patients poisoned by cauterizing liquids]

Intragatric pH-metry made in 80 patients with chemical gastric burn (CGB) in the acute and early postburn periods revealed that in 17% of the victims, gastric acid secretion remains normal, 51.2% of cases showed its increase (hyperacidity) whose maximum rates (100%) are detected in patients with extensive CGB of the third degree and whose minimum rates (20%) were found in those with fourth-grade CGB. Hypoacidicity was diagnosed in 31.2% of the patients. A significant (1.7-6-fold) enhancement of acid secretion was observed during stimulation, which suggests the compensated hyperfunction of intact gastric mucosal portions and supports the fact that the values of basal acidicity are leveled by bile reflux duodenogastritis. The latter was diagnosed by pH-metry data in 63.8% and by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) in 87.5% of cases. The detection rate of reflux gastroesophagitis (RGE) was also higher by EGDS than that by pH-metry: 42.5 and 26.3% of cases, respectively. The lowest detection rate of RGE was noted in patients with fourth-degree CGB whereas the endoscopic signs of reflex esophagitis (RE) were most pronounced: erosive and ulcerative RE was diagnosed in 28% of cases.