ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The esophagus is the most common part of gastrointestinal (GI) tract at the risk of stricture. Benign disorders are the leading causes of narrowing. Caustic ingestion is the most common cause of esophageal stricture in children, especially in developing countries. Clinical responses to the topical application of Mitomycin C in various medical procedures have been reported. PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate the methodology, efficacy, and side effects of Mitomycin C in the treatment of esophageal strictures. METHODS: This study included 30 children with resistant esophageal strictures. Upper GI endoscopy was performed up to the area of stricture, esophageal dilatation was done, endoscopy was repeated, and Mitomycin C was applied topically under direct endoscopic vision. The effect of the procedure was followed over a period of 3–5 years. RESULTS: The response to Mitomycin C was excellent (clinically and endoscopically) in 28 patients (93.3%) and good (endoscopically only) in 2 patients (6.7%). No side effects of topical Mitomycin C in children with esophageal strictures were reported in this study. CONCLUSION: Esophageal dilatation followed by local Mitomycin C application may be a useful strategy for treating resistant esophageal strictures.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Constriction, Pathologic , Developing Countries , Dilatation , Eating , Endoscopy , Esophageal Stenosis , Esophagus , MitomycinABSTRACT
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a caustic agent which is used in farms, homes and hospitals for cleaning skin and wounds as an antiseptic solution. It may lead to digestive system injuries in case of ingestion. We present a two-days-old newborn case which was carried to the emergency unit with complaints of poor breastfeeding, uneasiness and crying for 4-6 hours. Her mom confessed that she had given a spoon of 10% BAC solution for her cough. Initial laboratory tests were in normal ranges. A gastroscopy performed in the second hour of her admission revealed an hyperemic and edematous mucosa in the middle third of esophagus and a circumferential ulceration followed in the distal portion. Hereupon, a conservative treatment for 10 days was administered and the control gastroscopy demonstrated that the damage was almost totally improved. She was the youngest case with this etiology and successfully treated with conservative approach.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant, Newborn , Agriculture , Benzalkonium Compounds , Breast Feeding , Cough , Crying , Digestive System , Eating , Emergency Service, Hospital , Esophagitis , Esophagus , Gastroscopy , Mucous Membrane , Reference Values , Skin , Ulcer , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
The plastic hardener methyl ethyl ketone peroxide is unstable peroxide that releases free oxygen radicals. Ingestion of this compound induces widespread liver necrosis, severe metabolic acidosis, corrosive esophagitis and gastritis, that is often fatal. A 49-year-old man unintentionally ingested approximately 100 mL (55%) of this compound in solution, which was purchased as plastic hardener. Despite resuscitation, he died about 11 hours after admission. We report a patient with poisoning due to methyl ethyl ketone peroxide who presented with corrosive esophagitis and gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and developed ischemia of the bowel and necrosis of the liver and died of severe metabolic acidosis and multiorgan failure.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , Acidosis , Eating , Esophagitis , Gastritis , Hemorrhage , Ischemia , Liver , Necrosis , Plastics , Poisoning , Reactive Oxygen Species , ResuscitationABSTRACT
Patients with corrosive esophageal strictures have a high risk of developing carcinoma of the esophagus. For this reason, it is often recommended that resection of the esophagus should be considered for chronic caustic strictures in order to prevent the development of carcinoma. A 49-year-old woman who had undergone an esophagogastrectomy due to esophageal caustic stricture at the age of 23 was admitted with a 2-month history of dysphagia. Esophagoscopy showed a benign postoperative stricture in the remnant esophagus. After endoscopic balloon dilation of the stricture, which was about 5 cm in length, an ulcerative mass was noted distal to the stricture. This mass was diagnosed as squamous cell carcionoma. Nearly all the patients with corrosive carcinomas in the published literature had consumed an alkali drink, but our patient had a history of sulfuric acid ingestion.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Alkalies , Constriction, Pathologic , Deglutition Disorders , Eating , Esophageal Stenosis , Esophagoscopy , Esophagus , Sulfur , Sulfuric Acids , UlcerABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of the esophageal balloon dilatation (EBD) in children with a corrosive esophageal stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects included 14 patients (M:F = 8:6, age range: 17-85 months) who underwent an EBD due to a corrosive esophageal stricture. The causative agents for the condition were glacial acetic acid (n = 9) and lye (n = 5). RESULTS: A total of 52 EBD sessions were performed in 14 patients (range 1-8 sessions). During the mean 15-month follow-up period (range 1-79 months), 12 patients (86%) underwent additional EBD due to recurrent esophageal stricture. Dysphagia improved after each EBD session and oral feeding was possible between EBD sessions. Long-term success (defined as dysphagia relief for at least 12 months after the last EBD) was achieved in two patients (14%). Temporary success of EBD (defined as dysphagia relief for at least one month after the EBD session) was achieved in 17 out of 52 sessions (33%). A submucosal tear of the esophagus was observed in two (4%) sessions of EBD. CONCLUSION: Only a limited number of children with corrosive esophageal strictures were considered cured by EBD. However, the outcome of repeated EBD was sufficient to allow the children to eat per os prior to surgical management.
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Acetic Acid/poisoning , /methods , Burns, Chemical/diagnostic imaging , Caustics/poisoning , Deglutition Disorders/etiology , Esophageal Stenosis/chemically induced , Esophagus/diagnostic imaging , Lye/poisoning , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Carcinosarcoma of the esophagus is a rare malignancy accounting for approximately 1-2% of all esophageal neoplasms. It presents as a bulky intraluminal polypoid lesion mainly in the mid to lower esophagus, which harbors both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components histologically. It often presents relatively early because of its rapid intraluminal growth. We report the case of a 69-year-old man who had suffered from dysphagia for 1 month. He was previously admitted to the hospital due to corrosive esophagitis caused by ingestion of acetic acid. Endoscopy and radiological studies revealed a bulky polypoid mass with superficial ulcerations and mucosal friability, measuring 10 cm in length approximately, in the mid-esophagus. Subtotal esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy was done. Microscopically it was composed of sarcomatous component intermingled with squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical stains reveal cytokeratin, 34betaE12, and p63 positivity in the nests of carcinoma, and desmin and vimentin positivity in the spindle cells of sarcomatous stoma.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Carcinosarcoma/diagnosis , Esophageal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Esophagectomy , Esophagitis/chemically induced , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Biomarkers, Tumor/immunologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical features and complication such as esophageal stricture in children with corrosive esophagitis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 31 children who accidentally ingested corrosive materials and visited to emergency room of Chonnam National University Hospital from Jan. 1992 to Dec. 1999. Twenty-one children were examined by upper gastrointestinal(UGI) endoscopy to evaluate location and severity of caustic injury. RESULTS: 1) Among 31 patients, there were 20 males and 11 females and the ratio of male to female was 2:1. Average age at diagnosis was 2.3 years (12months to 9.8 years). Twenty-seven(87.1%) patients were accidentally ingested vinegar. 2) Initial presenting symptoms were dysphagia(54.8%), vomiting(48.3%), chemical burn on lips and skin(45.2%), excessive salivation(45.2%), coughing and respiratory grunting(32.3%) and aspiration pneumonia(9.8%). 3) UGI endoscopic examination showed caustic injury in 17 children : grade I in 8, grade II in 7 and grade III in 2. The region of caustic injury was proximal esophagus in 5, distal esophagus in 3, entire esophagus in 9 and stomach in 6. 4) Corrosive esophageal strictures developed in 6 children(19.4%) and gastric outlet stricture in 1(3.2%). All of them showed grade II or III caustic injury on endoscopic examination. CONCLUSION: The development of esophageal stricture was related to the severity of the caustic injury. Early UGI endoscopic examination in caustic ingestion seems to be useful for prediction of development of caustic stricture.