Emergency oesophageal stripping, an aggressive approach to acute, necrotic caustic burns of the oesophagus and stomach.

The authors describe a patient who was admitted with total necrosis of the oesophageal and gastric mucosa after ingestion of concentrated sodium hydroxide solution. An emergency total gastrectomy and blunt, thoracic oesophageal stripping was performed. Three months later, the continuity of the digestive tract was restored by a retrosternal colon interposition. The necessity of an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach after the ingestion of caustics is recommended. An emergency endoscopic evaluation of the upper G.I. tract is mandatory. If a third degree oesogastric mucosal burn is diagnosed urgent laparatomy should be performed to assess transmural wall necrosis. If present an oesophageal gastrectomy should be performed as a life saving intervention.