CORROSIVE INJURIES OF THE ESOPHAGUS AND STOMACH - EXPERIENCE IN MANAGEMENT AT A REGIONAL PEDIATRIC CENTER

In a 21-year period between June 1974 and May 1995, eight children req uired surgery for the treatment of complications after ingestion of co rrosive substances. There were six oesophageal injuries due to alkali ingestion and two gastric injuries secondary to acid ingestion. Of tho se ingesting alkali, diagnosis of stricture was made at a mean of 28 d ays and all children underwent endoscopic dilatation with a mean of si x treatments (range 2-13). Two children subsequently required oesophag eal replacement and colonic interposition. One of the children ingesti ng acid presented as an emergency with peritonitis and required laparo tomy at which partial gastrectomy and pyloroplasty were performed. The second child presented 3 weeks after ingestion with a gastric strictu re and required gastrogastrostomy. All children are currently alive an d well and are asymptomatic. The details of management are discussed, together with a review of the literature.