THE EFFECT OF CORTICOSTEROIDS AND PENTOXIFYLLINE IN CAUSTIC ESOPHAGEAL BURNS - A PROSPECTIVE TRIAL IN RATS

Background. Caustic Esophageal Burns (CEB) usually result in scatritia l tissue and stricture formation, Management requires preventing the m assive inflammatory process that ensues in its early phase and decreas ing bacterial complications. Methods. An animal model was created to i nvestigate the effect of corticosteroids and pentoxifylline in CEB usi ng 52 male Wistar rats, The injury was produced using an indwelling es ophageal catheter through which 3N of 12% sodium hydroxide was infused . The rats were grouped as control, CEB, CEB and ceftazidime (CEB-C, 1 00 mg/kg/day im, bid, 10 days), CEB and ceftazidime plus dexamethasone (CEB-CD, 0.1 mg/kg/day im, bid, 4 weeks) and CEB and ceftazidime plus pentoxifylline (CEB-CP, 50 mg/kg/day im, tid, 4 weeks). The groups we re evaluated making use of esophagograms, hydroxyproline (OH-P) conten ts and histologic examination of the specimens 28 days after injury. R esults. No significant statistical differences were observed among the dexamethasone (CEB-CD), pentoxifylline (CEB-CP), antibiotics (CEB-C) and the untreated CEB groups.