Evaluation of a Diagnostic and Management Algorithm for Adult Caustic Ingestion: New Concept of Severity Stratification and Patient Categorization

Role of N-acetylcysteine and vitamin B complex in improving outcomes of corrosive ingestion

Background

Corrosive ingestion remains a worldwide public health problem. To date, there are no specific medications with approved efficacy in reducing gastrointestinal injury progression following corrosive ingestion.

Aim

The current study assessed the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and vitamin B complex as adjuvant therapy in improving the outcome of patients with corrosive ingestion.

Subjects and methods

The study included 92 patients with acute corrosive ingestion admitted to Alexandria Poison Center. Patients were distributed into four equal-sized groups and managed as such; Group I received the standard treatment protocol. The other three groups received IV antioxidants in addition to the standard treatment; Group II received NAC, Group III received vitamin B complex, and Group IV received both NAC and vitamin B complex. To assess occurrence of delayed complications, barium swallow and meal were done 21 days after acute corrosive ingestion, and every patient was followed up for one year.

Results

Start of oral intake was earliest among patients in Group II, and as a result, the need for parenteral nutrition decreased significantly with a subsequent decrease in duration of hospitalization. The highest percentage of patients showing normal findings of barium swallow and meal was among the two groups that received NAC (72.7% in Group II and 77.8% in Group IV). Group IV patients who received NAC and vitamin B complex had no esophageal strictures with improved outcomes.

Conclusion

NAC and vitamin B complex enhanced recovery in the acute stage, in addition to prevention of delayed complications, especially esophageal strictures.

Highlights

Acute corrosive ingestion is associated with high morbidity because of its catastrophic presentation and lifelong complications.This study was conducted on 92 patients admitted to Alexandria Poison Center (APC).IV NAC significantly decreased the time needed for starting oral intake after acute corrosive ingestion and consequently, the need for parenteral nutrition and duration of hospitalization.No patients suffered from esophageal strictures in the group which received both IV NAC and vitamin B complex.Both NAC and vitamin B complex improved the outcome of patients after ingestion of corrosives whether acids or alkalis.

Diagnostic accuracy of drooling, reluctance, oropharynx, others, and leukocytosis score as a predictor of mortality and complications following acute corrosive ingestion

OBJECTIVES

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is considered the gold standard in assessing the severity of injury to the gastrointestinal tract following corrosive ingestion. Zargar's endoscopic grading of injury helps in prognostication as well as guiding management. Since the major burden of cases lies in resource-limited settings, the availability of endoscopic evaluation is a limiting factor. Hence, it is prudent to develop bedside tools that can be used as screening tools to identify patients at high risk of mortality and complications so that timely referrals and judicious utilization of resources can be made. Literature in this regard is limited and published studies have shown that clinical features fail to predict the severity of injury. We aimed our study to find the role of Drooling, Reluctance, Oropharynx, Others, and Leukocytosis (DROOL) score as a predictor of mortality and complications following acute corrosive ingestion.

METHODS

This was a diagnostic accuracy study conducted in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital in North India. We screened all cases of acute corrosive ingestion presented to our ED. We collected the data on demographic profile, clinical features, investigations, endoscopy findings, treatment, and DROOL score. We followed patients for up to 12 weeks for outcomes including mortality and complications.

RESULTS

We studied 79 patients of acute corrosive ingestion. The median age was 26 years with a female predominance. Nausea, vomiting, and pain abdomen were the common symptoms. The median DROOL score was 4. The majority of our patients had normal to Zargar grade 1 injury to the stomach and esophagus. Out of 79 patients, 27 patients developed some complications. The overall mortality up to 12 weeks was 10%. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed, and the area under the ROC (AUROC) curve of Zargar classification in predicting overall complications was 0.909 (96% confidence interval [CI]: 0.842-0.975) and it was 0.775 (95% CI: 0.553-1.000) in predicting mortality. The AUROC of DROOL score in predicting overall complications was 0.932 (95% CI: 0.877-0.987) and the AUROC of DROOL score in predicting mortality was 0.864 (95% CI: 0.758-0.970). The ROC analysis showed that a DROOL score ≤4 has a sensitivity of 96.2% and a specificity of 77.8% in predicting overall complications. Similarly, DROOL score ≤5 has a sensitivity of 81.7% and a specificity of 62.5% in predicting the development of mortality. Delong test showed that there was no statistically significant difference in Zargar versus DROOL score in terms of prediction of mortality and overall complications (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

DROOL score is comparable to Zargar score in identifying patients at high risk of mortality and complications. Hence, DROOL score can be used for risk stratification of patients presenting with corrosive ingestion.

Suicide Attempt by a Corrosive Agent Causing Unusual Outcomes and Complications

We commonly encounter patients in the emergency department who present after a suicide attempt. The methods can vary and present unique challenges depending on the nature of the attempt. We present an unsuccessful attempt via chemical ingestion that led to severe complications involving the ingestion of drain cleaner with both highly corrosive and caustic properties. The management and presentation are discussed in great detail to further investigate the best treatment plan for both acute and chronic complications.

Severe Intentional Corrosive (Nitric Acid) Acute Poisoning: A Case Report and Literature Review

Despite being one of the most debilitating conditions encountered in the field of toxicology, there is a lack of neutralization measures for the toxins involved in acute corrosive poisoning, and this promotes progressive contact injury of deep tissues after poisoning has occurred. Multiple controversies still surround management strategies during the acute phase of poisoning and the long-term follow-up of the patient. Here, we report a severe case of intentional poisoning with nitric acid complicated by extensive injury of the upper digestive tract, multiple stricture formation, and complete dysphagia. Serial endoscopic dilation and insertion of a jejunostomy feeding tube were necessary, and underlying psychiatric illness negatively affected the outcome of the patient. We conclude that an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to properly reduce the extent of lesions and sequelae induced by corrosion. Early endoscopic mapping of injuries is of major importance to better predict the evolution and possible complications of poisoning. Interventional and reconstructive surgical procedures may significantly improve the life expectancy and quality of life of patients following intoxication with corrosive substances.