[Caustic lesions of the upper digestive tract. Apropos of 191 cases]

The authors report 191 cases of caustic burns of the upper gastro intestinal tract. HCL is the most incriminated caustic. 6 of them are severe cases: 2 are dead immediately, 4 were operated in emergency and 3 died. The staging based on fibroendoscopy allow us to make a prognosis. 43% of the cases stage III and 14% stage II developed a stenosis. A nasogastric tube is performed at 135 cases. It's used for an enteral artificial feeding and for oesophageal stenting in burns liable to cause stenosis. Through the results of this study and a review of the literature we may establish a therapeutic schema adapted to our conditions.