Clinical Signs and Endoscopic Findings of the Upper Gastro Intestinal Tract in Patients Admitted at Toxication Department of Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran with the History of Caustic Substances Ingestion (Acid or Alkaline) in 2007

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy seems necessary in the initial evaluation of patients who have ingested corrosives. The purpose of the current study was to determine the relationship between clinical signs and laboratory tests with the severity of upper gasterointestinal (GI) tract injury according to endoscopic findings in patients with history of caustic ingestion.

66 patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy after ingestion of caustic substances including acid and alkaline were evaluated in Loghman Hakim Hospital, in Tehran in 2007. Demographic information including age, gender, type of caustic substance, amount of caustic substance, cause of ingestion, time of admission, interval between ingestion and admission, clinical signs and lab findings were collected to find out the relationship between effective variables with the severity of upper gastrointestinal tract injury and subsequent mortality.

The mean age of patients was 37 years and women had the most frequent referrals to hospital (51.5%). Acid ingestion equaled alkaline ingestion (43.9%). The most frequent type of caustic substance was witex (33.3%). The most frequent cause for ingestion was suicidal (72.7%) and the most frequent clinical sign and laboratory findings were oropharyngeal injuries (60.6%), anemia and leukocytosis (39.3%). Grade 0 (normal) in zarger classification was the endoscopic lesions mostly found and Grade 3b being the least. ‍

No clinical signs and laboratory findings solely or their combination could identify the necessity of Esophagogastroduodenoscopy in patients who have ingested caustic substances.