Management of esophageal caustic injury

Abstract

Ingestion of caustic substances and its long-term effect on the gastrointestinal system maintain its place as an important public health issue in spite of the multiple efforts to educate the public and contain its growing number. This is due to the ready availability of caustic agents and the loose regulatory control on its production. Substances with extremes of pH are very corrosive and can create severe injury in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The severity of injury depends on several aspects: Concentration of the substance, amount ingested, length of time of tissue contact, and pH of the agent. Solid materials easily adhere to the mouth and pharynx, causing greatest damage to these regions while liquids pass through the mouth and pharynx more quickly consequently producing its maximum damage in the esophagus and stomach. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is therefore a highly recommended diagnostic tool in the evaluation of caustic injury. It is considered the cornerstone not only in the diagnosis but also in the prognostication and guide to management of caustic ingestions. The degree of esophageal injury at endoscopy is a predictor of systemic complication and death with a 9-fold increase in morbidity and mortality for every increased injury grade. Because of this high rate of complication, prompt evaluation cannot be overemphasized in order to halt development and prevent progression of complications.

Key Words: Caustic ingestion, Esophageal caustic, Caustic injury, Corrosive ingestion, Esophageal injury

Core tip: Caustic ingestion maintains its place as an important public health issue in spite of the multiple efforts to educate the public. This is due to the ready availability of caustic agents and the loose regulatory control on its production. Substances with extremes of pH are very corrosive and can create severe injury in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Locations most seriously affected are in the esophagus and stomach and may lead to chronic complications like stricture formation, gastric outlet obstruction, and malignant transformation. Prompt evaluation is therefore emphasized in order to halt development and prevent progression of these complications.

INTRODUCTION

Ingestion of caustic substances and its long-term effect on the gastrointestinal system maintain its place as an important public health issue in spite of the multiple efforts to educate the public and contain its growing number. This is due to the ready availability of these caustic agents as items of household use and loose regulatory control on its production. According to the American Association of Poison Control (AAPCC), there were approximately two hundred thousand cases of cleaning substance exposure since 2000[1]. Data from developing countries, however, are sparse given that cases are largely underreported.

The age of occurrence presents in a bimodal fashion. The first peak is in the 1 to 5-year-old age group. Compared to adults, children are more likely to ingest caustic substances either accidentally or out of curiosity. Their higher exposure rate, however, is usually offset by a lower overall rate of complicated caustic injury because children often spit out the corrosive material immediately. The second peak is in the adolescent and young adult (21 years and older) age group. Majority of ingestions at this age group are intentional suicide attempts resulting in a greater and more extensive injury[2,3].

SUBSTANCES CAUSING CAUSTIC INJURY

Caustic agents can be acidic or alkaline in nature. Common alkali-containing caustic agents are household bleaches, drain openers, toilet bowel cleaners, dishwashing agents and detergents. Acid-containing agents implicated in caustic ingestion include toilet bowl cleaners, anti-rust compound, swimming pool cleaners, vinegar, formic acid used in the rubber tanning industry and other similar acids[3,4]. The type of caustic agent most commonly implicated in poisonings varies from country to country. In the annual report of the AAPCC in 2008, the most commonly implicated caustic agent was the alkali-sodium hypochlorite, which was found in bleaches, toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners and household disinfectants. Local experiences from Denmark, Israel, United Kingdom, Peru, Spain, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey also showed that alkaline agents were more commonly involved in caustic injury[4]. Most caustic substances were ingested in the liquid form and events commonly occurred at home[4]. Indian data, on the other hand, showed that majority of ingestions in their country were due to acids since these were cheaper and more readily available[3,4].

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Substances with extremes of pH (less than 2 or greater than 12) are very corrosive and can create severe injury and burns in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Locations most seriously affected are in the esophagus and stomach since the corrosive material often remains in these areas for a longer period of time. However, injuries can also occur in any area in contact with the caustic agents such as the oral mucosa, pharyngeal area, upper airways, and duodenum[5,6].

Acids and alkali agents have contrasting characteristics and differ in how they cause tissue damage. Alkaline agents are usually colorless, relatively tasteless, more viscous, and have a less marked odor. Hence, the amount ingested tends to be more[4]. Once ingested, alkaline substances react with proteins and fats and are transformed into proteinases and soaps, resulting in liquefactive necrosis. This leads to deeper penetration into tissues with a greater likelihood of transmural injury[6]. Acids, on the other hand, have a pungent odor and an unpleasant taste. It tends to be consumed in smaller amounts and are swallowed rapidly after ingestion[4]. Once it reacts with tissue proteins, these substances are converted to acid proteins. The mode of tissue injury is coagulation necrosis[6]. The coagulum prevents the corrosive agent from spreading transmurally, hence reducing the incidence of full thickness injury[4]. This distinction, however, is not always the case. In the setting of strong acid or strong base ingestion, both these substances easily penetrate the esophageal or gastric mucosa and cause full-thickness injury[7].

The traditional opinion is that acids preferentially damage the stomach. Its lower surface tension and the formation of protective esophageal eschar allow acids to bypass the esophagus rapidly without much damage while affecting the stomach more severely. Conversely, alkalis cause more injury to the esophagus. The higher surface tension of alkalis that permit a longer contact time with esophageal tissues and the acidic contents in the stomach that act to neutralize gastric injury explain the more severe damage to the esophagus.

Mucosal injury begins within minutes of caustic ingestion. It is characterized by necrosis and hemorrhagic congestion secondary to the formation of thrombosis in the small vessels. These events continue in the next several days until approximately 4 to 7 d later when mucosal sloughing, bacterial invasion, granulation tissue and collagen deposition occur. The healing process typically begins three weeks after ingestion. It is during this time (first 3 wk) that the tensile strength of esophageal and/or gastric tissues is the lowest. If the ulcerations extend well beyond the muscularis layer, the wall becomes vulnerable to perforation[3,6]. It is for this reason that authorities advocate avoiding endoscopy between the 5^th and the 15^th day after caustic ingestion[3,6]. By the 3^rd week, scar retraction occurs and may continue for a few more months until stricture formation occurs. The lower esophageal sphincter pressure becomes also impaired in the process causing an increased frequency and severity of acid reflux that further aggravates existing mucosal injury and accelerates the stricture formation[7].

The severity of injury depends on several aspects: Concentration of the substance, amount ingested, length of time of tissue contact, and pH of the agent. Solid materials easily adhere to the mouth and pharynx, causing greatest damage to these regions. Liquids, on the other hand, pass through the mouth and pharynx more quickly consequently producing its maximum damage in the esophagus and stomach[7,8].

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

The clinical presentation of caustic ingestion is diverse and do not always correlate with the degree of injury. Symptoms mainly depend on the location of damage. Hoarseness and stridor are signs that are highly suggestive of an upper respiratory tract involvement, particularly the epiglottis and larynx. Presence of these findings may signal a potentially life-threatening respiratory event[7]. The upper gastrointestinal tract, on the other hand, may present as dysphagia or odynophagia for esophageal injury and hematemesis or epigastric pain for gastric involvement[7,8].

Short-term complications include perforation and death. Perforation of the esophagus or stomach can occur at any time during the first 2 to 3 wk of ingestion. A sudden worsening of symptoms or an acute deterioration of a previously stable condition should warrant a thorough investigation to rule out the possibility of a perforated viscus[7,8].

Chronic complications of caustic ingestion include stricture formation, gastric outlet obstruction and malignant transformation. Patients with esophageal strictures usually complain of dysphagia and substernal pressure, and may become symptomatic 3 wk or later after ingestion. Symptoms of early satiety, post-prandial nausea or vomiting, and extreme weight loss suggest gastric obstruction. The latter commonly occurs in the first 5 to 6 wk of ingestion[6].

Carcinoma of the esophagus is a well-recognized consequence of caustic ingestion - partly due to the chronic inflammation from the initial burn, the trauma induced by repeated dilation, and the continuous tissue reaction from food stasis. Patients with a history of caustic ingestion often have a 1000-3000-fold increase in the incidence of esophageal carcinoma. Conversely, up to 3% of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus may have a history of caustic ingestion[7,8]. For alkaline ingestion in particular, subsequent development of squamous cell carcinoma has been reported to occur approximately 40 years after injury. This is mainly because of the liquefactive necrosis caused by alkali agents, which causes a deeper penetration of injury compared to the less severe and often limited mucosal injury of acidic substances. Periodic endoscopic evaluation is therefore suggested starting 20 years after the caustic ingestion with an interval of 1 to 3 years.

DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING

Laboratory tests

Laboratories were not found to directly correlate with the severity or the outcome of the injury. One study showed that age, an elevated white blood cell count (> 20000 cells/mm), and the presence of gastric deep ulcer or gastric necrosis are independent predictors of death[9]. Basically, laboratory work-ups play a more important role in guiding patient management than in predicting morbidity or mortality[7,8].

Traditional radiology

Plain chest radiography may show gas shadow in the mediastinum or below the diaphragm suggesting esophageal or gastric perforation, respectively. If perforation is suspected, an upper gastrointestinal series using a water-soluble agent can be performed.

Ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound can also be used to evaluate the esophageal wall. Though in comparison to the conventional endoscopy, no difference was achieved in predicting early complications. Reports show that destruction of the muscularis layer on EUS could be a reliable sign of stricture formation and a marker for decreased response to balloon dilatation. However, further studies are needed to establish the role of EUS in caustic injury[7,8].

Computed tomography scan

In assessing the extent and boundary of injury, computed tomography (CT) scan has a slightly higher diagnostic contribution than upper endoscopy. It can show the depth of necrosis and even the presence of transmural damage, thereby allowing clinicians to assess threatened or established perforations[7,8]. And because of its non-invasive quality, CT scan may prove to be a promising diagnostic in the early evaluation of caustic injury[7].

Magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in general, provides little advantage over CT scan in the assessment of caustic injury. Besides its obvious benefit of processing images without the use of ionizing radiation, it does not reliably distinguish the different layers of the esophageal wall, which is crucial for the initial assessment of the extent of mucosal involvement. In addition, some patients, particularly the acutely ill, may not be able to tolerate the slower throughput of MRI and may not be able to cooperate during the procedure resulting in movement artifacts.

Endoscopy

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is an important and highly recommended diagnostic tool in the evaluation of caustic injury especially during the first 12 to 48 h of caustic ingestion, though several reports indicate that it can be safely performed up to 96 h post-ingestion. Gentle and cautious insufflation during the procedure cannot be sufficiently emphasized. Endoscopy is generally not advised 5 to 15 d after caustic ingestion due to tissue softening and friability during the healing stage. With findings of extensive damage and necrosis, aborting the procedure is not mandatory[7,8]. However, endoscopy is usually contraindicated in several situations; such as hemodynamic instability, severe respiratory compromise, and suspected perforations[8].

In the absence of symptoms and in the presence of accidental ingestions (especially those of less corrosive substances), significant lesions are usually not observed on upper endoscopy. As such, it is not required in some reports to perform endoscopy for asymptomatic patients with ingestion of low potency materials. This, however, is not applicable to patients with intentional ingestions since the substances they commonly consume are more potent. Therefore, emergent endoscopy among these patients is generally recommended[7,8].

Ultimately, endoscopy is considered the cornerstone in the diagnosis, prognostication, and guide to management of caustic ingestions. Various endoscopic grading is available and Zargar’s classification is one of the most commonly used (Table 1 and Figure 1). In his study, Zargar et al[10] found that early major complications and death were confined to patients with grade III injuries. All patients with grade 0, I and IIA burns recovered without sequelae. Majority of grade IIB and all survivors with grade III injury developed eventual esophageal or gastric cicatrization[10]. In general, the degree of esophageal injury at endoscopy is a predictor of systemic complication and death with a 9-fold increase in morbidity and mortality for every increased injury grade[10].

Table 1 Zargar classification and its corresponding endoscopic description.

Zargar classification	Description
Grade 0	Normal mucosa
Grade I	Edema and erythema of the mucosa
Grade IIA	Hemorrhage, erosions, blisters, superficial ulcers
Grade IIB	Circumferential lesions
Grade IIIA	Focal deep gray or brownish-black ulcers
Grade IIIB	Extensive deep gray or brownish-black ulcers
Grade IV	Perforation

Figure 1 Endoscopic pictures of Zargar classification 0 to IIIB. A: Zargar Grade 0: Normal mucosa; B: Zargar Grade I: Edema and erythema of the mucosa; C: Zargar Grade IIA: Hemorrhage, erosions, blisters, superficial ulcers; D: Zargar Grade IIB: Circumferential bleeding, ulcers. Exudates; E: Zargar Grade IIIB: Focal necrosis, deep gray or brownish black ulcers; F: Zargar Grade IIIB: Extensive necrosis, deep gray or brownish black ulcers.

MANAGEMENT

General measures (Figure 2)

Figure 2 Management algorithm for caustic substance ingestion. CT: Computed tomography; GI: Gastroenterology; ICU: Intensive care unit.

Management of caustic injury includes immediate resuscitation and evaluation of extent of damage. In general, correlation between symptomatology and endoscopic post-corrosive severity is still unproven. The patient’s initial signs and symptoms are oftentimes unreliable to gauge the extent of involvement since 20% of caustic ingestions may not present with oropharyngeal injury[11,12]. Nevertheless, for patients with a clear history of accidental ingestion of a low-volume, low-concentration caustic substance and with no signs and symptoms of oropharyngeal injury, endoscopy may be deferred. These patients may then be discharged after a 48-h observation period[11]. For those with large volume of ingestions and with significant findings on endoscopy (at least grade IIB), in-patient observation for any immediate complications in the intensive care unit is generally advised[13,14].

The cornerstone of all caustic ingestions is airway and hemodynamic stabilization. Since direct exposure of the upper respiratory tract by the corrosive substance may occur, patients should be evaluated for the need to do immediate intubation or tracheostomy. Intubation with direct visualization under fiberoptic laryngoscopy is most appropriate to avoid the risk of bleeding and further airway injury from “blind” airway access[10,15,16]. If the epiglottis and larynx are edematous, tracheostomy should be performed.

Neutralizing agents

In previous protocols, neutralizing agents (weakly acidic or basic substances) for caustic ingestion was viewed as one of the first steps for treating caustic intoxications[11]. However, it has now been emphasized that these substances should not be administered due to the additional thermal injury and chemical destruction of tissues these reactions produce[14,17].

Nasogastric tube

Routine nasogastric intubation for the purpose of evacuating any remaining caustic material is no longer warranted prior to endoscopic assessment of mucosal injury. This is due to the possibility of inducing retching or vomiting leading to further esophageal exposure by reflux of the remaining intragastric caustic material. Moreover, insertion of a foreign body in the acute setting may act as a nidus for infection, which may subsequently delay mucosal healing[16].

A preliminary survey of expert opinion from members of the world society of emergency surgery showed that 93% opted to use nasogastric tubes in patients with evidence of oropharyngeal injury while 7% avoided placement in any scenario. Among the 93%, more than two thirds opted to insert a nasogastric tube endoscopically. The theoretical advantage is said to provide a patent route for enteral feeding while serving as a stent to maintain luminal integrity and to decrease stricture formation[18].

Gastric acid suppression and mucosal protection

Upon admission, the patient should be kept fasting. Gastric acid suppression with H₂ blockers or intravenous proton pump inhibitors are often initiated to allow faster mucosal healing and to prevent stress ulcers. Efficacy of these agents for caustic ingestion has not yet been proven, although a small study done in 2013 has shown endoscopic healing after omeprazole infusion[7,16,19].

Sucralfate is now a common adjunct in the management of acute ulcers. It achieves its therapeutic effect by maintaining mucosal vascular integrity and blood flow. In the setting of caustic ingestion, sucralfate is said to hasten mucosal healing by providing a physical barrier between the harmful effects of the corrosive substance and the gastroesophageal mucosa[20-22]. Several small randomized controlled studies have assessed the efficacy of sucralfate in corrosive esophagitis. Results from these studies showed that sucralfate may decrease the frequency of stricture formation with advanced corrosive esophagitis. However, further research with a larger sample size is required to support its recommended use in this setting[20,23].

Antibiotics

To date, evidence is still conflicting with regard the use of antibiotics. A study in 1992 analyzed the utility of antibiotic together with systemic steroid administration in caustic ingestion. It was concluded that antibiotics with steroids may be useful in preventing strictures in patients with extensive burns[24]. But since it was not possible to separate the effect of the antibiotic from that of the possible effect of the steroid in this study, it may be difficult to support the use of antibiotic in preventing stricture formation with such limited data. Hence, the consensus maintains that patients treated with steroids should also be treated with antibiotics[16].

Steroids

Initial studies on corticosteroid administration to prevent stricture formation in caustic ingestion were mainly on children and results were conflicting. Methylprednisolone at a dose of 1 g/1.73 m² per day for 3 d showed benefit in reducing stricture development[25]. Likewise, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg per day) was shown to be better than prednisolone (2 mg/kg per day) in preventing stricture formation (38.9% vs 66.7%) and severe stricture development (27.8% vs 55.6%)[26].

However, another study showed that prednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg intravenous did not provide any benefit in preventing stricture development[27]. A systematic pooled analysis of caustic ingestion supported this finding as it failed to show additional benefit with the use of steroid in patients with grade II esophageal burns[28]. Based on the above evidence, it seems prudent to avoid systemic corticosteroids in caustic ingestion until further research confirms its efficacy.

Triamcinolone and mitomycin-C

Intralesional steroid such as triamcinolone (40-100 mg/session) has long been known to augment the dilatation of caustic-induced esophageal strictures although results from most studies are still conflicting[29,30].

Recently, mitomycin C has been shown to decrease the rate of caustic stricture formation in animals due to its antifibroblastic properties[31]. It has been used as an adjunct[32-34] after dilatation of caustic strictures in humans (including those with long strictures) by applying mitomycin-C topically at a dose of 0.4 mg/mL[34,35]. In a study of 16 patients treated with endoscopic topical application of mitomycin-C, a decrease in the number of dilatations and apparent relief of dysphagia were achieved compared to triamcinolone[35].

ENDOSCOPY

Endoscopy is important not only in the diagnosis of corrosive ingestion but also in determining subsequent management. In general, patients with normal looking mucosa or those with very mild injury may be discharged. For those with Zargar grade I or IIA, in-hospital observation is advised and gradual progression of diet from liquids is done in the next 24 to 48 h. Patients with at least grade IIB are monitored more closely. An endoscopically-guided nasoenteric feeding tube may be placed with caution, bypassing the areas of necrosis, to facilitate feeding while initiating trial of per orem feeding. For grade III injuries, the patient’s response to treatment and feeding is usually observed for at least a week[14]. Prophylactic esophageal stenting in the acute setting is generally not recommended[36] due to a high perforation rate.

LATE COMPLICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

Esophageal stricture is one of the most common sequelae of caustic injury. Up to 70% of patients with grade IIB and more than 90% of patients with grade III injury are likely to develop esophageal stricture[37].

Peak development of strictures commonly starts on the 8^th week post-ingestion, although it has been reported to occur as early as 3 wk[7,37,38]. The timing of management is crucial in achieving long-term functional effects.

Endoscopic dilatation

The primary non-surgical treatment of caustic esophageal stricture is endoscopic dilatation. This can be achieved with Bougies or balloon dilators. For tight and fibrotic strictures, bougies dilators are often more reliable than balloon dilators[37]. A prospective study published in 2015 assessed a rigorous weekly schedule of bougie dilatation (Savary-Gilliard) along with intralesional triamcinolone in patients with refractory esophageal corrosive strictures. It was noted that this intervention was safe and effective in improving dysphagia, achieving clinically significant dilatation, reducing dilatation frequency, maintaining luminal patency of ≥ 14 mm[14,39].

Using balloon dilators, a lower dilatation force should be used initially to avoid perforation[40]. This may need to be repeated and advanced slowly to achieve effective and safe dilatation. The interval between dilatations varies from 1-3 wk among different studies[16] but usually an interval of 3-4 wk is recommended.

For either technique, the goal is to achieve relief of symptoms (particularly dysphagia) and maintain efficient luminal diameter of up to to 15 mm[41].

Esophageal stents

Though endoscopic dilatation with balloon has been the standard of treatment for benign esophageal strictures, the recurrence rate still reaches 30%-40%. Approximately 10% of these patients fail to achieve clinical improvement and remain refractory to repeated dilatations. In such patients a good option is stent insertion. Recently, 3 types of stents are now available: Self expanding metal stents (SEMS), plastic sent, and biodegradable (BD) stent - each with its own advantage and disadvantage.

SEMS are often discouraged in benign esophageal stenosis due to its high rate of necrosis and ulceration, tissue hyperplasia, new stricture or fistula formation, and the tendency for the metal portion to embed within the esophageal wall. Plastic stents are said to have lesser tissue hyperplasia but with higher rate of stent migration and lower tendency to sustain significant radial force. Both of these stents require repeated endoscopic intervention for stent retrieval. Recently, BD have been introduced in the hopes of avoiding the above complications and the need for re-intervention for stent extraction[42].

A study in 2012 compared these 3 stents in patients with refractory benign esophageal stenoses. In this study, long-term resolution of dysphagia was highest in the metal stents group (40%) compared to BD stents (30%) and plastic stents (10%). Tissue migration was highest in the plastic stent group and lowest in the BD stent group[43]. To date, there is still no ideal stent recommended for universal use among patients with benign esophageal strictures, the choice for each patient should be individualized[44].

Surgery

Corrective surgery for esophageal strictures from caustic injury is done only in severe cases where endoscopic therapy fails or is deemed harmful. Surgical options include partial or total esophagectomy with gastric pull up or, preferably colonic interposition[38]. Gastric pull-up in general, is quicker and requires only one anastomosis. However, the long-term functional outcome may decrease with development of complications such as recurrence of stricture, bothersome reflux, and subsequent metaplasia over the anastomotic site[7,16,45-52]. On the other hand, colon interposition is a more complex procedure requiring 3 anastomoses, albeit with a more stable long-term functional outcome. It is often associated with a lower incidence of stricture formation than gastric pull-up hence its preferential use in the setting of a relatively spared and healthy stomach[16]. Mortality rates of late reconstructive surgery depend on local surgical expertise.