BACKGROUND: Endoscopy is the standard of care for emergency patient evaluation after caustic ingestion. However, the inaccuracy of endoscopy in determining the depth of intramural necrosis may lead to inappropriate decision-making with devastating consequences. Our aim was to evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT) for the emergency diagnostic workup of patients with caustic injuries. METHODS: In a prospective study, we used a combined endoscopy-CT decision-making algorithm. The primary outcome was pathology-confirmed digestive necrosis. The respective utility of CT and endoscopy in the decision-making process were compared. Transmural endoscopic necrosis was defined as grade 3b injuries; signs of transmural CT necrosis included absence of postcontrast gastric/ esophageal-wall enhancement, esophageal-wall blurring, and periesophageal-fat blurring. RESULTS: We included 120 patients (59 men, median age 44 years). Emergency surgery was performed in 24 patients (20%) and digestive resection was completed in 16. Three patients (3%) died and 28 patients (23%) experienced complications. Pathology revealed transmural necrosis in 9/11 esophagectomy and 16/16 gastrectomy specimens. Severe oropharyngeal injuries (P = 0.015), increased levels of blood lactate (P = 0.007), alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.027), bilirubin (P = 0.005), and low platelet counts (P > 0.0001) were predictive of digestive necrosis. Decision-making relying on CT alone or on a combined CT-endoscopy algorithm was similar and would have spared 19 unnecessary esophagectomies and 16 explorative laparotomies compared with an endoscopy-alone algorithm. Endoscopy did never rectify a wrong CT decision. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency decision-making after caustic injuries can rely on CT alone.
BACKGROUND: Endoscopy is the standard of care for emergency patient evaluation after caustic ingestion. However, the inaccuracy of endoscopy in determining the depth of intramural necrosis may lead to inappropriate decision-making with devastating consequences. Our aim was to evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT) for the emergency diagnostic workup of patients with caustic injuries. METHODS: In a prospective study, we used a combined endoscopy-CT decision-making algorithm. The primary outcome was pathology-confirmed digestive necrosis. The respective utility of CT and endoscopy in the decision-making process were compared. Transmural endoscopic necrosis was defined as grade 3b injuries; signs of transmural CT necrosis included absence of postcontrast gastric/ esophageal-wall enhancement, esophageal-wall blurring, and periesophageal-fat blurring. RESULTS: We included 120 patients (59 men, median age 44 years). Emergency surgery was performed in 24 patients (20%) and digestive resection was completed in 16. Three patients (3%) died and 28 patients (23%) experienced complications. Pathology revealed transmural necrosis in 9/11 esophagectomy and 16/16 gastrectomy specimens. Severe oropharyngeal injuries (P = 0.015), increased levels of blood lactate (P = 0.007), alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.027), bilirubin (P = 0.005), and low platelet counts (P > 0.0001) were predictive of digestive necrosis. Decision-making relying on CT alone or on a combined CT-endoscopy algorithm was similar and would have spared 19 unnecessary esophagectomies and 16 explorative laparotomies compared with an endoscopy-alone algorithm. Endoscopy did never rectify a wrong CT decision. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency decision-making after caustic injuries can rely on CT alone.
Authors: Giuseppe Cutaia; Marianna Messina; Sara Rubino; Elisabetta Reitano; Leonardo Salvaggio; Ilenia Costanza; Francesco Agnello; Ludovico La Grutta; Massimo Midiri; Giuseppe Salvaggio; Rosalia Gargano Journal: Emerg Radiol Date: 2021-03-08
Authors: Mircea Chirica; Michael D Kelly; Stefano Siboni; Alberto Aiolfi; Carlo Galdino Riva; Emanuele Asti; Davide Ferrari; Ari Leppäniemi; Richard P G Ten Broek; Pierre Yves Brichon; Yoram Kluger; Gustavo Pereira Fraga; Gil Frey; Nelson Adami Andreollo; Federico Coccolini; Cristina Frattini; Ernest E Moore; Osvaldo Chiara; Salomone Di Saverio; Massimo Sartelli; Dieter Weber; Luca Ansaloni; Walter Biffl; Helene Corte; Imtaz Wani; Gianluca Baiocchi; Pierre Cattan; Fausto Catena; Luigi Bonavina Journal: World J Emerg Surg Date: 2019-05-31 Impact factor: 5.469
Authors: Marcus Hollenbach; Jan Tünnemann; Manuel Florian Struck; Jürgen Feisthammel; Tobias Schlosser; Tiffany Schaumburg; Joachim Mössner; Albrecht Hoffmeister Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2019-08 Impact factor: 1.817