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Corrosive injury of the oesophagus in children

Petr Janousek1, Zdenek Kabelka, Michal Rygl

  • 1ENT Clinic of the 2nd Medical Faculty, Paediatric ENT Department, Charles University, Motol, Prague 2MF CU, Czech Republic. petr.janousek@lfmotol.cuni.cz

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|April 1, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Early rigid esophagoscopy is crucial for diagnosing pediatric esophageal corrosive injury, even without symptoms. This procedure confirmed injury in 44% of suspected cases, guiding essential treatment decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Otolaryngology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Corrosive injury to the esophagus in children presents a diagnostic challenge.
  • Prompt and accurate diagnosis is vital for effective management and preventing long-term sequelae.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of early rigid esophagoscopy in diagnosing corrosive esophageal injury in pediatric patients.
  • To assess the incidence and severity of corrosive esophageal injury in a cohort of children.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of 337 pediatric patients treated for suspected esophageal corrosive injury between 1994 and 2003.
  • Patients underwent early rigid esophagoscopy, intensive medical therapy, nasogastric tube placement, and/or surgical intervention.
  • A grading system (0-4) was used to classify esophagoscopic findings.

Main Results:

  • Esophagoscopy revealed corrosive injury in 44% of patients.
  • Negative exams were recorded in 55.7% of cases.
  • Injury severity ranged from 1st degree (17.4%) to 4th degree (3%), with 2nd and 3rd degrees affecting 24% of patients.

Conclusions:

  • Early rigid esophagoscopy is indicated for all pediatric patients with suspected corrosive esophageal injury, regardless of clinical symptoms.
  • Endoscopic findings confirmed injury in a significant proportion of cases, highlighting its diagnostic value.
  • The study supports a proactive endoscopic approach to optimize the management of pediatric corrosive esophageal injuries.
Abstract

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