Caustic ingestion burn in the emergency department of a third-level hospital in the north of Mexico. A case report

Background: Caustic ingestion is an infrequent reason for consultation in the emergency room; in adults, cases of ingestion are usually self-inflicted, with complications such as intestinal perforation and death in the acute phase, and long-term stenosis and development of carcinoma. We report the case of a 23-year-old male with a personal history of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety. Four hours before admission he reported ingestion of 400 ml of a corrosive substance, starting with abdominal pain, for which he went to the emergency department. We describe the diagnostic approach and management provided in a third-level hospital in the north of Mexico, including the initial approach in the emergency department, nasoendoscopy of the airway, and upper endoscopy. After detecting and receiving early emergency care management, we describe the patient's positive evolution. The relationship between symptoms and the severity of the lesion may be imprecise since there are not enough statistical publications, it is necessary to develop studies and collect clinical data to obtain the standard management and optimal treatment of caustic ingestion and to investigate the factors that cause variability in the clinical picture and the evolution of the patients. Keywords: Caustic ingestion, chemical burns, endoscopic management, corrosive substances