OBJECTIVE: This study examined a cohort of pediatric patients treated for suspected corrosive injury of the oesophagus in the ENT department between 1994 and 2003. METHODS: During the study period we examined 337 patients. All patients were treated according to an individual diagnostico-therapeutic protocol that included: foremost, early rigid oesophagoscopy; intensive medical therapy; nasogastric tube placement; and/or surgical intervention. RESULTS: Our proposed system of grading on a scale from 0 to 4 was used to classify the findings upon oesophagoscopy. One hundred eighty eight patients (55.7%) had a negative exam; 1st degree corrosive injury was present in 58 patients (17.4%); 2nd and 3rd degree injury in 81 patients (24%); and 4th degree was found in 10 patients (3%). CONCLUSIONS: Because the endoscopic findings were positive in 44% of patients with suspected corrosive injury, early rigid oesophagoscopy is indicated in all patients suspected of having corrosive injury even in the absence of clinical symptoms.

ENT Clinic of the 2nd Medical Faculty Paediatric ENT Department Charles University Motol Prague 2MF CU Czech Republic

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