Caustic soda ingestion — a case presentation and review of the literature

Received 13 December 2000; received in revised form 22 February 2001; accepted 24 February 2001.

Abstract

We present a case report of a 2-year-old child with a hypopharyngeal stricture secondary to caustic soda ingestion. We discuss the initial and long-term management of caustic soda ingestion. In this case the hypopharynx was successfully reconstructed using a pedicled pectoralis major flap. We demonstrate the versatility of this flap, which is traditionally known for its use in adult head and neck surgery.

Keywords: Caustic soda ingestion, Hypopharyngeal stricture, Pectoralis major flap, Reconstruction

Department of Otolaryngology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London W2, UK

Corresponding author. Present address: 11 Holliday Street, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2EE, UK

1 Present address: Galverston Texas, USA

2 Present address: Bristol Children's Hospital, Bristol, UK

3 Present address: South Thames Region, UK

4 Present address: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London, UK and St. Andrew's Hospital for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Chelmsford, Essex, UK

PII: S0165-5876(01)00461-X

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