Surgical outcomes of patients with corrosive ingestion: a retrospective analysis

Corrosive ingestion can cause severe complications, including perforation, stricture, and fistula, which often require surgical intervention to prevent further damage. This retrospective observational study analyzed surgical outcomes and gender differences in ingestion types (accidental vs. suicidal) and causative substances (acid, alkali, ammonia, detergent, or mixed) among 99 patients at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi from January 2002 to January 2024. The average age of the patients was 30.36 ± 10.18 years, with 61.62% female patients and 38.38% male patients. Accidental ingestion was more common in males (94.74%), whereas suicidal ingestion was more common in females (21.31%, p = 0.026). Mixed substances were the most common substances ingested, particularly among females (60.66%, p = 0.048). All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and diagnostic laparoscopy or feeding jejunostomy was the most common surgical procedure (57.58%). The esophagus (68.69%) was the most affected site. Surgical site infections (16.16%) and strictures (11.11%) were the most frequent complications, with a mortality rate of 4.04%. Our study concluded that timely surgical management could reduce the risk of complications and enhance patient outcomes. Corrosive ingestion often affects multiple areas of the gastrointestinal tract that require several surgical interventions. In certain cases, complex procedures, such as colon interposition and total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy (TLPO), which require skilled surgeons as well as advanced management centers, are performed to manage corrosive injuries. Therefore, improving these patients’ outcomes via interventions focused on training in complex surgical procedures is crucial. However, more research is needed to identify the most effective approaches for the surgical management of corrosive ingestion.