Pneumatic dilatation of caustic esophageal strictures in children. Report of five cases.

The ingestion of caustic substances is a frequent accident in the child. Th e treatment of caustic strictures of the esophagus, which constitute the mo st frightening complication, varies from conservative treatment to esophage al replacement We report the preliminary results of a prospective work esta blished since July 1998 and aimed at evaluating the role of pneumatic dilat ation in the treatment of these injuries. Studied population. - The serie included five boys with an average age of s ix years. Two children were neurologically handicapped. Results. - The caustic product was soda (three cases), a dishwasher solutio n tone case) and bleach tone case). Dysphagia was constant and concerned th e semi-fluids in four cases. The stricture was extended over an average len gth of 4 cm. The total number of dilatations was 36 with an average of seve n sessions/patient. No complication was noted. The result was good in four cases. The only failure was noted in a child who presented a gastroesophage al reflux secondary to the scarring phenomena. Conclusion. - Pneumatic dilatation constitute a therapeutic mean whose resu lts are attested. The best treatment remains, however, preventive: it is th e setting out of reach of the child the dangerous products. (C) 2001 Editio ns scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.