Respiratory Complications from Acute Corrosive Poisonings in Adults

Abstract

Introduction:Acute corrosive poisonings are caused by ingestion of corrosive chemicals which are most commonly used as household agents. Intoxications with these kind of agents produce numerous and severe post-corrosive complications of the upper gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, our experience showed that corrosive agents may also cause injuries of the respiratory system, which makes the treatment very hard and additionally complicates the severe clinical condition of the patient.Objective:The aim of the study is to show the incidence of respiratory complications in acute corrosive poisonings, the need of various clinical investigations and also the treatment and final outcome of these kind of poisoning. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of 415 patients hospitalized and treated at the University clinic for toxicology and urgent internal medicine, in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, in the period between 2007 and 2011. The protocol consisted of methods for analyzing the systemic complications, with an accent on the post-corrosive respiratory complications.Results:From the total number of patients even 98 (23.61%) exhibited systemic complications, from which 51 (52.04%) are respiratory complications. The majority of patients are female (n=40, 78.43%) and the most common complication is pneumonia (n=47). The youngest patient in this study was 14 and the oldest was 87 years old.Conclusion:Besides the gastrointestinal complications in the acute corrosive poisonings respiratory complications are also very often. They complicate the clinical state of patient and very often lead to fatal endings.

Leucocytes' Parameters for Prediction of the Complications of Acute Corrosive Toxicity

“…Out of 44 patients included in this study, 11 patients (25%) developed complications. According to Chibishev et al (2014), 23.61% of the cases developed complications. In the same time Caganova et al 2017registered 15.5% of respiratory complicated cases among corrosive intoxicated patients.…”

“…Corrosive poisoning may be associated with some serious complications such as respiratory complications, anaemia, renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and gastrointestinal complications including stenosis or stricture (Chibishev et al, 2014;Lee et al, 2014).…”

Clinico-Endoscopic Profile and Outcome of Corrosive Ingestion: A Single Centre Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India

“…They can cause oesophageal perforation, stricture formation and later may lead to the development of oesophageal carcinoma (3). The cumulative rate of these various complications is estimated up to 23.61-89.3% (4,5). Endoscopy is important diagnostic test for prognosis and management of corrosive ingested patients.…”

Retrospective Evaluation of Corrosive Substance Ingestion: Single Center Experience

“…Most patients with mild injuries recover without serious consequences. However, numerous corrosive intoxications can cause serious chemical injuries and death (4,6,7). It may cause complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, bleeding, perforation, stenosis and fistula (8,9).…”

“…It may cause complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, bleeding, perforation, stenosis and fistula (8,9). Mortality is most commonly caused by tracheal necrosis and perforation of the esophagus or stomach, followed by mediastinitis or peritonitis (6,10,11). The severity of the lesions caused by the caustic substances depends on the type, amount and concentration of the caustic agent taken, as well as the duration of contact with the mucosa.…”