Sham Feeding Induced Gastric Acid Secretion in Patients with Caustic Induced Esophageal Stricture

Caustic ingestion can lead to structural changes in the upper gastro-intestinal tract. However, there is limited data on the effect of caustic ingestion on gastric secretion. This study was planned to determine changes in gastric acid output after sham feeding in patients with caustic induced esophageal stricture and to compare it with healthy controls. It was a prospective study done at tertiary care center in North India. Consecutive patients with caustic induced esophageal stricture were evaluated for the study. Gastric secretory function was estimated in the basal state and after modified sham feeding. These results were compared with age-matched controls. The mean age of the included patients (n = 18) was 30.11 ± 9.19 years and 13 patients were male. 16 (88%) patients had history of acid ingestion. Patients with caustic sequelae had significantly lower basal and stimulated acid secretion compared to controls (n = 10) (5.84 ± 2.44 mmol/hr; p < 0.01 and 17.16 ± 7.53 mmol/hr; p < 0.01; respectively). Patients with lower esophageal stricture (n = 8) had significantly lower increase in acid output compared to patients with stricture elsewhere in esophagus (0.20 ± 0.3 vs. 2.31 ± 1.74 mmol/hr, p < 0.01). Patients with lower esophageal involvement had significantly lower stimulated acid secretion and increase in acid secretion compared to controls (4.74 ± 4.67 vs. 17.16 ± 7.53 mmol/hr; p < 0.01 and 20 ± 0.3 vs. 2.09 ± 0.88 mmol/hr; p < 0.01; respectively).

Gastric secretion in patients with caustic ingestion: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

Caustic ingestion can lead to structural changes in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, there are limited data on the effect of caustic ingestion on gastric secretion. This study was planned to determine the changes in gastric acid output in patients with caustic ingestion.

METHODS

It was a prospective study done at a tertiary care center in northern India. Twenty consecutive patients in chronic phase of caustic ingestion were evaluated for the study. The gastric secretory function was estimated in the basal state and following pentagastrin stimulation. These results were compared with normal values for our laboratory.

RESULTS

The mean age of the included patients (n = 20) was 27.35 ± 2.96 years and 14 patients were male. Sixteen (80%) patients had a history of acid ingestion. Patients with caustic ingestion had significantly lower mean gastric acid secretion (0.8 ± 0.4 mEq/h vs. 4 ± 0.4 mEq/h; p < 0.001) compared to controls. After pentagastrin stimulation, the mean gastric juice volume (31.8 ± 6 mL/h vs. 62.3 ± 11.7 mL/h; p < 0.01) and acidity (15.3 ± 5.1 mEq/L vs. 39.6 ± 9.3 mEq/L; p < 0.001) increased in patients with caustic ingestion, but were lower than those in control subjects. Patients with a lower esophageal stricture (n = 6) had decreased maximum acid output (0.62 ± 0.32 mEq/h vs. 6.05 ± 0.55 mEq/h; p < 0.05) compared to patients with stricture in the upper or middle esophagus.

CONCLUSION

Caustic ingestion is associated with reduced gastric juice volume and acid output. Patients with stricture in the lower one third of the esophagus are at a higher risk of hypochlorhydria compared to patients with stricture in either the upper or middle esophagus.