Author(s)

Saké Khadidjatou^1*, Fanou Coffi Dénis², Agbeille Mohamed Falilatou¹, Hountondji Astrid Alexandrine¹, Tamou Sambo Bio Elie¹, Tchaou Blaise Adélin¹, Sehonou Jean³, Kodjoh Nicolas³

¹Faculty of Medicine, University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
²Military Teaching Hospital-Regional Teaching Hospital of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
³Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

Objective: Caustic ingestion is a medico-surgical emergency. The objective of this study is to describe endoscopic lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract secondary to caustic ingestion in Parakou, Benin Republic. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was multicenter in the gastrointestinal endoscopy units of the Teaching Hospital Center of Borgou-Alibori and the Military Teaching Hospital of Parakou. It covered the period from July 2015 to October 2021. This included any patient who ingested a caustic substance and performed a gastroscopy in one of the two endoscopy units. The variables studied were: socio-demographic data, the nature of the caustic substance ingested, the time between the caustic ingestion and the performance of gastroscopy and injuries of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Results: Out of the 24 patients included, 19 were men, i.e. a sex ratio of 3.8. Their average age was 25.54 ± 12.04 years with extremes of 6 and 50 years. Five subjects (20.83%) were under the age of 18 and the ingestion was accidental in them. Among the 19 patients aged at least 18 years, caustic ingestion was voluntary in 14 (73.68%). The caustic substance ingested was either a base (sodium hydroxide or caustic soda) or an acid (sulfuric acid) in 14 cases (58.33%) and 10 cases (41.67%), respectively. The time between the caustic ingestion and the performance of gastroscopy varied from 1 to 1095 days. The endoscopic lesions objectified were: stenosis (37.5%), ulcerations (29.17%), necrosis (20.83%), or erythema (12.25%). Conclusion: In Parakou, caustic ingestion, usually bases, is often voluntary in adult men. Endoscopic lesions were often ulcerative but sometimes necrotic.

Caustic Injuries, Bases, Acids, Endoscopy, Parakou

Khadidjatou, S. , Dénis, F. , Falilatou, A. , Alexandrine, H. , Elie, T. , Adélin, T. , Jean, S. and Nicolas, K. (2023) Endoscopic Aspects of Caustic Injuries of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract in Parakou, Benin Republic: A Multicenter Study. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 11, 15-24. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2023.1110002.