TY - JOUR PY - 2015// TI - Computed tomography evaluation of esophagogastric necrosis after caustic ingestion JO - Annals of surgery A1 - Chirica, Mircéa A1 - Resche-Rigon, Matthieu A1 - Zagdanski, Anne Marie A1 - Bruzzi, Matthieu A1 - Bouda, Damien A1 - Roland, Eric A1 - Sabatier, François A1 - Bouhidel, Fatiha A1 - Bonnet, Francine A1 - Munoz-Bongrand, Nicolas A1 - Marc Gornet, Jean A1 - Sarfati, Emile A1 - Cattan, Pierre SP - 107 EP - 113 VL - 264 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Endoscopy is the standard of care for emergency patient evaluation after caustic ingestion. However, the inaccuracy of endoscopy in determining the depth of intramural necrosis may lead to inappropriate decision-making with devastating consequences. Our aim was to evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT) for the emergency diagnostic workup of patients with caustic injuries.

METHODS: In a prospective study, we used a combined endoscopy-CT decision-making algorithm. The primary outcome was pathology-confirmed digestive necrosis. The respective utility of CT and endoscopy in the decision-making process were compared. Transmural endoscopic necrosis was defined as grade 3b injuries; signs of transmural CT necrosis included absence of postcontrast gastric/ esophageal-wall enhancement, esophageal-wall blurring, and periesophageal-fat blurring.

RESULTS: We included 120 patients (59 men, median age 44 years). Emergency surgery was performed in 24 patients (20%) and digestive resection was completed in 16. Three patients (3%) died and 28 patients (23%) experienced complications. Pathology revealed transmural necrosis in 9/11 esophagectomy and 16/16 gastrectomy specimens. Severe oropharyngeal injuries (P = 0.015), increased levels of blood lactate (P = 0.007), alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.027), bilirubin (P = 0.005), and low platelet counts (P > 0.0001) were predictive of digestive necrosis. Decision-making relying on CT alone or on a combined CT-endoscopy algorithm was similar and would have spared 19 unnecessary esophagectomies and 16 explorative laparotomies compared with an endoscopy-alone algorithm. Endoscopy did never rectify a wrong CT decision.

CONCLUSIONS: Emergency decision-making after caustic injuries can rely on CT alone.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0003-4932 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000001459 ID - ref1 ER -