- Caustic or corrosive ingestion in an adult patient is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition with a mortality of 10% among intensive care unit (ICU) patients
- Corrosives/caustic substances are capable of causing tissue injury on contact by chemical reactions, from the lips to the stomach, sometimes resulting in esophageal or gastric perforation, strictures (esophageal stricture & gastric stricture), or sepsis.
- Caustics include:
Alkalis: Potassium /sodium hydroxide, dishwashing detergents, disk batteries, bleaches such as Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), and cement.
Acids: hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, oxygen bleach (hydrogen peroxide . . .Please Subscribe to continue reading
