injuries and poisoning
Caustic Substances Poisoning
Treatment of Caustic Substances Poisoning
Drinking water or milk to dilute the caustic substance Sometimes surgery to repair damage Avoidance of stomach emptying The extent of damage determines treatment. People with severe burns sometimes need immediate surgery to remove severely damaged tissue. Because caustic substances can cause as much damage when returning up the esophagus as they did when swallowed, a person who has swallowed a caustic substance should not be made to vomit. Syrup ofipecacand charcoal are not given. If burns are mild, the person may be encouraged to begin drinking milk or water fairly soon in order to dilute the corrosive liquid in the stomach. Drinking can begin at home or on the way to the hospital. If the person cannot drink, fluids are given by vein until drinking is possible. Perforations are treated with antibiotics and surgery. If strictures develop, a bypass tube (stent) may be placed in the narrowed portion of the esophagus to prevent the esophagus from closing and to allow for future widening (dilation). Repeated widening may be needed for months or years. For severe strictures, surgery to rebuild the esophagus may also be necessary. A person who has swallowed a caustic substance should not be made to vomit. Syrup ofipecacis not given. 