[Esophago-gastric lesions caused by caustics].

A wide range of lesions may occurs after accidental or voluntary ingestion of caustic substances including mild epithelial injury to whole thickness necrosis of the involved organs. The type of management varies according to the severity of the damage, medical therapy being indicated in the less severe cases while surgery is required in life threatering lesins or alternatively as elective treatment of trighly desabling sequelae last complications such as. From 1981 to 1989 we observed 20 patients with acute hastro-oesophageal lesions due to ingestion caustic substances 19 of then were successfully treated with medical therapy. Only 1 patient underwent surgery and died of oesophagus cardiac fistula with right atrium perforation (24 days following total gastrectomy). Based on either our own experience and the data reported in the literature we believe that the most adequate management of patients with lesions of the E.G. due to caustic agents tract must include: vital functions control maintenance intensive care treatment of shock endoscopic monitoring of E.G. lesions emergency surgical treatment where needed.