ABSTRACT
Experience in endoscopic examination and treatment of 282 patients with isolated and combined chemical burn of the esophagus (CBE) of different severity is presented. Endoscopic treatment, performed in combination with chemotherapy, consisted in irradiation of burn surface with low-energy laser 'Mustang' through the canal of the endoscope. The procedure was performed 3 times a week up to complete epithelization of burn ulcers. Both in primary esophagogastroduodenoscopy and in repeated examinations sphincter function of the cardia, presence and sizes of axial hiatal hernia, changes of esophageal mucosa and presence of gastroesophageal reflux were analyzed. It is demonstrated that CBE was associated with dysfunction of the cardia in more than 90% cases. Rate of erosive and ulcerous reflux-esophagitis was 24.6-34%; cicatrix stricture of the esophagus - 6.3-12.2% in isolated and combined CBE, respectively. Severity of reflux-esophagitis and its complications was determined by severity of chemical burn.
