Utilization of Chest Tube in Pediatric Caustic Injuries: A New Method for Esophageal Stenting

Background: The management of caustic esophageal burns in the pediatric population has changed over the years, while the most optimal management with regards to effectiveness, availability, and cost-beneficent stays controvertible. Herein, along with describing the features of caustic injury, we described how to utilize a chest tube for esophageal stenting in pediatrics.Methods: Data regarding the etiology, treatment, and complications of caustic injury pediatrics during 10 years was collected retrospectively. Furthermore, data regarding the patient’s follow-up who underwent esophageal chest tube (ECT) were collected. The ECT was prepared by carving a narrowed section in the chest tube while maintaining the radiopaque section. The ECT will then be positioned from the cricopharyngeal and exited through the nostril and fixed on the patients’ cheek.Results: Data from 57 patients with an average age of 2.5 years was collected. The most common cause of esophageal burn appertained to alkaline agents (89%). Twenty-nine patients (50.8%) recovered with dilatation alone, 16 ones needed esophageal repair, and ECT was inserted for 7 patients. None of the 7 ECT cases required gastrostomy or jejunostomy.Conclusion: The ECT method introduced in our study can be used as a broadly available, economic, and easy-use facility for esophageal stenting, particularly in developing countries and emergency departments which have limited access to modern equipment. Further multicenter studies with higher volume patients are required for further deployment of this method.

A183 UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL CAUSTIC INJURIES: A SINGLE CENTRE CASE SERIES

Background Caustic esophageal and gastric injury is a rare, but potentially lethal event. The 2017 American Association of Poison Control reported only 193,000 cases of caustic ingestion (1). Caustic agents are acidic or alkaline. The pH of the ingested substance dictates the type of injury and the area of the gastrointestinal track most at risk. The most common culprit agents are alkaline including, for example, bleaches, drain openers and dishwashing detergents. Due to the rarity and natural history of this disease there are very few high-quality studies for clinicians to refer to when managing these patients. Aims We present three cases of caustic ingestion and provide a review of current best practice standards. Methods Between August and September 2019, three patients were admitted to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at the University of Toronto for caustic injury. All three patients were referred to the gastroenterology service and underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to assess the degree of esophageal and gastric injury. Patients were followed both in hospital and in the outpatient setting for ongoing surveillance and repeated endoscopic evaluation. Patient demographics, treatment, endoscopic findings and outcomes were collected. Results Three patients intentionally ingested caustic agents, were admitted to hospital and managed by the gastroenterology service. Patients were a mix of ages, genders and ethnicities. All ingestions were strong alkali agents including sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. All patients underwent an EGD within 24 hours of presentation and caustic injury was graded using the Zargar classification (2). All patients were started on intravenous proton pump inhibitor therapy. All patients were initially made nothing per mouth and ability to resume feeds was assessed based on symptoms. Patient 1, Zargar grade 1, was able to resume oral intake within 48 hours and progressed to a regular diet without complications. Patient 2, Zargar grade 2a, required 5 days of TPN and bowel rest after which a liquid diet was initiated and advanced without complications. The third patient, had a severe injury (Zargar grade 3b), requiring a prolonged hospital stay. He was on TPN for three weeks before transitioned to tube feeds. Conclusions Caustic mucosal injuries are an infrequent, but potentially lethal event requiring urgent assessment and management by a team including gastroenterologists, thoracic and abdominal surgeons, dieticians and intensivists. High-quality evidence to guide management of caustic injuries remains limited. In our case series, there was a wide spectrum of degree of mucosal injury. All 3 patients were managed in a consistent fashion based on current recommendations. Two of three cases had a rapid recovery with the ability to resume oral intake and return home. The third patient remains in hospital, requiring a high level of supportive care. Funding Agencies None

Esophageal caustic injuries in pediatrics: a sobering global health issue

Caustic material ingestion by children is considered a global healthcare issue, especially in low-to-middle income countries. The aim of this article was to review the epidemiology, prevention, and management of caustic material ingestion in pediatric patients, comparing low-to-middle income countries with high-income countries. We conducted an English literature review using PubMed with the following keywords: (caustic OR corrosive) AND ingestion AND (pediatric OR pediatric). Our search retrieved 253 citations; all abstracts were screened by the authors, and 52 articles were finally included in our review. Prevention is key in tackling this issue, but legislation is scarce in low-to-middle income countries. Diagnosis of caustic ingestion is mostly achieved using flexible endoscopy, computed tomography, and endoscopic ultrasound, but access is limited in low-to middle income countries and diagnosis is often delayed. After stabilizing patients, the mainstay of treatment is graded endoscopic dilatation, and rarely, esophageal replacement. We concluded that caustic ingestion represents a serious condition where prevention is the key. Once a child suffers an injury, rapid and careful evaluation of the injury with endoscopy, and a course of close observation and dilations if needed, will often avoid esophageal replacement. When necessary, the stomach is the best first option if it is viable, followed by the colon, and finally, the jejunum.

PS01.098: EMERGENCY COMPUTED TOPMOGRAPHY PREDICTS CAUSTIC ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE FORMATION

Background Endoscopy is the best predictor of stricture formation after caustic ingestion. Our aim was to compare the accuracy of emergency CT and endoscopy in predicting risks of esophageal stricture. Methods We describe a CT classification of esophageal caustic injuries: Grade I show normal esophagus; Grade IIa display internal enhancement of the esophageal mucosa and enhancement of the outer wall conferring a ‘target’ aspect; Grade IIb present as a fine rim of external esophageal wall enhancement. In 152 patients (56 males, median age 45) who underwent esophageal preservation after caustic ingestion we compared the accuracy of the CT and endoscopic (Zargar) classifications in predicting esophageal stricture. Results On endoscopy esophageal injuries were classified as grade 1(n = 50; 33%), grade 2a n = 11; 7%), grade 2b (n = 19; 13%), grade 3a (n = 14; 9%) and grade 3b (n = 58; 38%). On CT, 47 (31%) patients had grade I, 47 (31%) had grade IIa and 58 (38%) had grade IIb esophageal injuries. Fifty-six (37%) patients developed esophageal strictures. The risk of esophageal stricture formation was 0%, 17% and 83%, for grade I, IIa and IIb CT injuries and 0%, 0%, 28%, 50% and 76% for endoscopic grade 1, 2a, 2b, and 3a and 3b injuries, respectively. ROC curve analysis at 120 days after ingestion showed that CT outperformed endoscopy in predicting stricture formation (P = 0.047) and did just as well as a combined CT-endoscopy algorithm (P = 0.73). Conclusion Emergency CT outperforms endoscopy in predicting esophageal stricture formation after caustic ingestion. Emergency endoscopy evaluation after caustic ingestion is not indispensable. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.