- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Part 15.1 Principles of management
- Part 15.2 Management of specific poisons
- Chapter 317 Management of salicylate poisoning
- Chapter 318 Management of acetaminophen (paracetamol) poisoning
- Chapter 319 Management of opioid poisoning
- Chapter 320 Management of benzodiazepine poisoning
- Chapter 321 Management of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning
- Chapter 322 Management of poisoning by amphetamine or ecstasy
- Chapter 323 Management of digoxin poisoning
- Chapter 324 Management of cocaine poisoning
- Chapter 325 Management of β-blocker and calcium channel blocker poisoning
- Chapter 326 Management of cyanide poisoning
- Chapter 327 Management of alcohol poisoning
- Chapter 328 Management of carbon monoxide poisoning
- Chapter 329 Management of corrosive poisoning
- Chapter 330 Management of pesticide and agricultural chemical poisoning
- Chapter 331 Management of radiation poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 1564) Management of corrosive poisoning
- Chapter:
- (p. 1564) Management of corrosive poisoning
- Author(s):
Ram E. Rajagopalan
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0329
Corrosive poisoning, typically with household chemicals, is a common problem in children and adults. As ingestion by adults is often intentional, they are usually associated with larger volumes of strong agents and have the potential to create more severe injury than that observed in the accidental ingestions commonly seen in children. The goal of acute care in these cases is to stabilize acute compromise of haemodynamics and to ensure patency of the injured airway. Blind placement of nasogastric tubes and attempts at dilution or neutralization of the ingested chemical are potentially hazardous and should be avoided. Early identification of oesophageal or gastric perforation by clinical evaluation and radiological testing will lead to early and appropriate surgical interventions for these complications. The primary focus after initial stabilization is to evaluate the extent of gastrointestinal injury by early endoscopy. The application of a standardized score to grade the injury allows risk stratification, the planning of nutritional support and referral for appropriate management of the chronic sequelae of scarring and stenosis of the injured gastrointestinal tract. No specific medical therapy can attenuate the extent of damage acutely nor alter the progression of chronic changes.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Part 15.1 Principles of management
- Part 15.2 Management of specific poisons
- Chapter 317 Management of salicylate poisoning
- Chapter 318 Management of acetaminophen (paracetamol) poisoning
- Chapter 319 Management of opioid poisoning
- Chapter 320 Management of benzodiazepine poisoning
- Chapter 321 Management of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning
- Chapter 322 Management of poisoning by amphetamine or ecstasy
- Chapter 323 Management of digoxin poisoning
- Chapter 324 Management of cocaine poisoning
- Chapter 325 Management of β-blocker and calcium channel blocker poisoning
- Chapter 326 Management of cyanide poisoning
- Chapter 327 Management of alcohol poisoning
- Chapter 328 Management of carbon monoxide poisoning
- Chapter 329 Management of corrosive poisoning
- Chapter 330 Management of pesticide and agricultural chemical poisoning
- Chapter 331 Management of radiation poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care