Laparoscopy can be Very Effective in Reducing Mortality Rate for Caustic Ingestion in Suicide Attempt

Excerpt

We read with great interest the article by Chou et al. [1] about the predictive factors of postoperative mortality in patients with gastrointestinal corrosive injuries who undergo emergency esophagogastrectomy. The experience of the Taiwan group is impressive, with more than 500 patients admitted with caustic injuries and more than 70 patients operated on in a 10-year period. Their indications for emergency surgery were (1) presence of peritoneal signs or free air, (2) grade 3 corrosive injuries in EGD, (3) intractable acid-base imbalance after medical resuscitation, (4) indications of shock upon arrival at the emergency department, and (5) presence of gross hematuria. Their postoperative mortality rate was 42.3%, similar to that observed in several series from around the world. …