Pediatric gastric outlet obstruction following corrosive ingestion

Corrosive substance ingestion is still a major medical and social problem for children. Gastric injury after corrosive ingestion is relatively uncommon as compared with esophageal injury. Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a significant complication of corrosive ingestion. Medical records of 20 consecutive patients with GOO due to corrosive ingestion during an 8-year period between 2002 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 10 boys and 10 girls with a mean age of 5.1 years (1.5–15 years). Ingested material was acid in all the patients. Two patients had associated esophageal stricture. The mean time between the ingestion and the development of GOO was 27.8 days (range 21–45 days) and all the patients presented with postprandial epigastric distension, nonbilious vomiting and weight loss. Surgical treatment included gastroduodenostomy (n = 8), Billroth I (n = 7), pyloroplasty (n = 5), and gastrojejunostomy (n = 2) procedures for GOO. Anastomotic stricture requiring a second operation developed in two patients. There was no surgical mortality. The mean follow-up is 3.3 years and all patients are free of symptoms. GOO is one of the most common gastric complications of corrosive ingestion that may require surgical treatment. Prevention of corrosive ingestion has great importance to avoid such complications.