Caustic burn

Background

• Substances that cause damage on contact with body surfaces
• Degree of injury determined by pH, concentration, volume, duration of contact
• Etiologies for shock include GI bleeding, perforation, volume depletion
  • Intentional ingestion a/w higher grade injuries
• Esophageal injuries
  • Mild injuries - normal function is restored
  • Severe injuries - strictures
• Days 2-14 post-injury are associated with highest tissue friability / risk of perforation
• High-grade caustic burns associated with 1000x increase in esophageal SCC

Alkalis

• Hydroxide ion easily penetrates tissue causing immediate cellular destruction
  • May cause deep penetration into surrounding tissues (e.g. abd/mediastinal necrosis)
• Examples
  • Bleach, drain openers, oven cleaners, toilet cleaner, hair relaxers
  • Household bleach rarely causes significant injury

Acids

• Hydrogen ion leads to cell death and eschar formation, which limits deeper involvement
  • However, due to pylorospasm and pooling, high-grade gastric injuries are common
    • Mortality rate is higher compared to strong alkali ingestions
• Ingestion may be complicated by systemic absorption (met acidosis, hemolysis, ARF)
• Examples
  • Auto batteries, drain openers, metal cleaners, swimming pool products, rust remover

Diagnosis

• All pts w/ serious esophageal injuries have some initial sign or symptom
  • E.g. stridor, drooling, vomiting
• Exam eyes and skin (splash and dribble injuries may easily be missed)
• GI tract injury
  • Dysphagia, odynophagia, epigastric pain, vomiting
• Laryngotracheal injury
  • Dysphonia, stridor, respiratory distress
  • Occurs via aspiration of caustic or vomitus or inhalation of acidic fumes

Work-Up

Labs

Only necessary in pts w/ significant injury

• • CBC
  • Chemistry
  • VBG
    • Anion gap acidosis due to lactate production (tissue injury) or from the acid itself
      • May also have non-anion gap acidosis (e.g. HCl)
  • Lactate
  • LFTs
  • Coags
  • Type and screen
  • Calcium level
    • If HF acid exposure
  • ECG
  • Screens for coingestants in suicidal pts
  • May show QT-prolongation if hypocalcemic 2/2 HF acid

Imaging

• Upright CXR
  • Detect peritoneal and mediastinal air
• Left-side down CXR
  • Indicated if unable to tolerate upright CXR
• CT
  • Consider when perforated viscus is suspected or after intentional ingestion

Treatment

1. Prevent personal exposure to the caustic agent
2. Airway
   1. Should be considered as a difficult airway
   2. Blind nasotracheal intubation is contraindicated
   3. First-line is awake oral intubation w/ direct visualization
   4. LMAs, combitubes, bougies are probably unsafe; should be used as last resort
   5. Surgical back-up is recommended
3. Steroids
   1. Some toxicologists recommend single dose of dexamethasone 10mg IV (0.06mg/kg in peds)
4. Decontaminate in usual manner
5. Activated charcoal
   1. Only consider when coingestants pose a risk for severe systemic toxicity
6. Endoscopy
   1. Should be performed <12hr after ingestion and no later than >24hr after ingestion
   2. Indications:
      1. Intentional ingestion
      2. Unintentional ingestion with signs of:
         1. Stridor
         2. Significant oropharyngeal burns
         3. Vomiting
         4. Drooling
         5. Food refusal
7. Surgery
   1. Indicated for peritoneal signs, free intraperitoneal or mediastinal air
8. No evidence to support prophylactic abx
9. Gastric lavage is contraindicated due to potential to cause reflux of caustic agent into esophagus, creating more damage

Disposition

• All pts w/ symptomatic caustic ingestions should be admitted

Special Situations

Dermal Exposure

• Acidic injuries (except HF acid)
  • Respond well to copious saline or water irrigation
• Alkali injuries
  • May appear superficial but often are deeper w/ ongoing burn
  • Treat w/ copious irrigation and local wound debridement to remove residual compound
• Disposition
  • Admit the following:
    • Injuries that cross flexor or extensor surfaces
    • Facial injuries
    • Perineum injuries
    • Partial-thickness injuries >10-15% of BSA
    • All full-thickness burns

Airbag-Related Burns

• Deployment releases small amount of alkali
  • Skin burns are usually minor
  • Ocular burns require irrigation, pH testing and ophto f/u
    • Long-term sequelae are rare

See Also

• Hydrofluoric Acid
• Caustic Keratoconjunctivitis

Source

Tintinalli