Unusual presentation and complication of caustic ingestion. Case report.

Caustic substances cause tissue destruction through liquefaction or coagulation reactions and the intensity of destruction depends on the type, concentration, time of contact and amount of the substance ingested. We report an unusual presentation and complication of caustic ingestion in a patient, who accidentally ingested sodium hydroxide. Our patient presented respiratory failure soon after admission and developed necrotizing esophagitis with progression to esophageal stenosis, which required surgical treatment. The complications were related to the amount of caustic soda ingested.