CAUSTIC ESOPHAGEAL INJURY WITH TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA

A 23-year old Saudi female patient is reported, who ingested an alkali ne cleaning solution. The patient was managed in a conservative fashio n at a local hospital for one month, At the end of that time she devel oped a tracheoesophageal fistula that caused respiratory failure and p rompted transfer to a tertiary institution. Her degree of injury and l ate transfer made definitive care impossible, This case is presented t o discuss the early and late management of caustic esophageal injury a nd to call for prompt transfer to a referral institution for definitiv e diagnosis and immediate management.