163 Caustic Ingestions: Acids or Bases. Does It Matter?

Caustic ingestions can be classified as either acids or bases. Acidic ingestions can lead to coagulative tissue necrosis; basic ingestions can result in liquefactive tissue necrosis. While the coagulative necrosis is presumed to form an eschar that limits the depth of penetration, significant tissue damage can occur with both types of ingestion. While previous studies involving exploratory ingestions of bases demonstrated asymptomatic patients can be safely observed and discharged without an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), the safety of this practice in acidic ingestions has been questioned.