Home self‐dilatation for esophageal strictures

Esophageal strictures secondary to caustic ingestion, head and neck radiation and at the anastomosis post‐esophagectomy tend to be refractory to one or several dilatations. One option for these strictures is home self‐dilatation. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of home self‐dilatation for a refractory esophageal stricture. A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients from 1997 to 2009 that performed home self‐dilatation for an esophageal stricture. Patients with proximal strictures without tortuosity or a shelf proximal to the stricture were selected for self‐dilatation. The patients were taught self‐dilatation by the surgeon and an experienced nurse, and an appropriate sized Maloney dilator was provided to the patient and returned when no longer needed. There were 16 patients (11 male and 5 female) with a median age of 60 years (range 38–78). The stricture was related to the anastomosis after esophagectomy in 12 patients, caustic injury in 3 patients and cervical chemoradiotherapy in 1 patient. Prior to initiation of self‐dilatation patients had a median of four endoscopic dilatations. Self‐dilatation was done with a Maloney dilator ranging in size from 45 to 60 French. The median duration of self‐dilatation was 16 weeks. No patient had a perforation or complication related to self‐dilatation. No patient required stenting or repetitive endoscopic dilatations because of failure of self‐dilatation. Strictures recurred in two patients after cessation of self‐dilatation and both responded to endoscopic dilatation followed by additional self‐dilatation. Self‐dilatation effectively resolves refractory esophageal strictures. It was well tolerated, and there were no complications in this series. Home self‐dilatation should be considered the treatment of choice in appropriate patients with refractory esophageal strictures in the cervical esophagus.     

Acute therapy with intravenous omeprazole on caustic esophageal injury: a prospective case series

The ingestion of caustic substances may result in significant esophageal injury. There is no standard treatment protochol for esophageal injury and most patients are treated with a proton pump inhibitor or H2 antagonist. However, there is no clinical study evaluating the efficacy of omeprazole for caustic esophageal injury. A prospective study of 13 adult patients (>18 years of age) who were admitted to our hospital for caustic ingestion between May 2010 and June 2010 was conducted. Mucosal damage was graded using a modified endoscopic classification described by Zargar et al. Patients were treated with a proton pump inhibitor and maintained without oral intake until their condition was considered stable. Patients received omeprazole 80 mg in bolus IV, followed by continuous infusion of 8 mg/hour for 72 hours. A control endoscopy was performed 72 hours after admission. There was significant difference regarding endoscopic healing between the before and after omeprazole infusion (P = 0.004). There was no hospital mortality at the follow‐up. Omeprazole may effectively be used in the acute phase treatment of caustic esophagus injuries.     

THERAPEUTIC OPTION FOR CHILDREN WITH ESOPHAGEAL CAUSTIC STENOSIS

Caustic ingestion is a leading cause of esophageal stenosis in children. Herein we report four cases using mitomycin C (MMC), a drug that inhibits cell division, protein synthesis and fibroblast proliferation and has been used as an adjuvant therapy for caustic esophageal stenosis that is recalcitrant to conventional dilation techniques. A retrospective chart review was performed on four pediatric patients with severe, recurrent esophageal stricture after caustic ingestion. The patients had required six to 20 esophageal dilations over a 4–16‐month period before MMC application. MMC was applied after an endoscopic dilation on saturated pledgets at a dose of 0.1 mg/mL for 2 min in the area where the strictures had been lyzed. From the four children treated with MMC, two have been asymptomatic for 16 and 20 months and two still require esophageal dilation, however, at longer intervals. All patients have shown satisfactory weight gain with food intake exclusively per oral. Although further studies are required, there is strong evidence that MMC is a safe and effective adjuvant therapy in the treatment of esophageal caustic stenosis.     

Nonsurgical management of severe esophageal and gastric injury following alkali ingestion.

The ingestion of caustic substances may result in significant gastrointestinal injury. Endoscopy can play a major role in the initial evaluation and subsequent therapy of such injuries. The case of a 50-year-old man who ingested an alkaline floor stripper is described, including the endoscopic management of esophageal and pyloric strictures, with good functional results. The role of endoscopy, steroids and acid suppression in the management of such patients is also explored.     

Foreign bodies and caustic lesions

Foreign body ingestions, food bolus impactions, and caustic agent injuries are frequent but specific situations. Although most foreign bodies will naturally pass through the digestive tract, practitioners should recognize specific situations were endoscopic management is required. In such cases, timing and adequate equipment are critical. Endoscopic treatment is successful in about 95% of patients. Severe complications (including oesophageal perforations) are rare. Underlying diseases (including eosinophilic oesophagitis) must be investigated after food bolus impaction. Accidental or suicidal ingestion of corrosive agents may result in severe upper gastrointestinal tract injuries requiring a multidisciplinary approach including gastroenterologists, surgeons, otorhynolaryngologists, anaesthesiologists and psychiatrists. Treatment includes conservative management of patients with mild injuries, while patients with severe injuries undergo emergency surgical exploration. At distance of the ingestion episode, oesophageal reconstruction is required in patients who underwent oesophageal resection and in patients who developed oesophageal strictures that failed dilatation.     

Ingestion of acid and alkaline agents: outcome and prognostic value of early upper endoscopy

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of caustic substances often leads to severe morbidity and, frequently, death. This study compared complications and survival for patients who ingested an acidic substance, mainly glacial acetic acid, or an alkaline agent. METHODS: Records for 179 patients hospitalized for ingestion of a caustic agent (85 acid [75 glacial acetic acid], 94 alkali) were reviewed. Mucosal injury, systemic and GI complications, and survival were scored. RESULTS: Outcome was less favorable for patients who ingested acid compared with those who ingested alkali with respect to mucosal injury (median: grade 2 vs. grade 1; p=0.013), hospital stay (mean: 9.9 vs. 7.2 days; p=0.01), admittance to the intensive care unit (44% vs. 22%; p=0.002), systemic complications (24% vs. 3%; p < 0.001), perforation (6% vs. 0%; p=0.017), and mortality (14% vs. 2%; p=0.003). There was no difference in the development of strictures (acid, 15% vs. alkali, 17%). The grade of mucosal injury at endoscopy was the strongest predictive factor for the occurrence of systemic and GI complications and mortality (relative risk 9: 95% CI[3, 30]). Ten of 29 (34%) patients with strictures were treated by endoscopic dilation alone, whereas the others primarily (n=7) or secondarily (n=11) underwent surgery. One patient with an esophageal stricture died from systemic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Acid ingestion, particularly glacial acetic acid, is associated with a higher frequency of complications and mortality rate than alkali ingestion. Early endoscopy probably is safe and provides important prognostic information. Endoscopic treatment of caustic-induced strictures is only moderately successful.     

épidémiologie et évolution des br?lures caustiques du tube digestif supérieur: à propos de 483 cas

Introduction

Ingestion of caustic is a frequent and serious injury, which can occur a fatal issue. Endoscopy is very important in management of corrosive injuries. Aims: To evaluated our experience in caustic injuries of upper aerodigestive tract and analyzed the lesions.

Patients and methods

This study has included 483 patients treated during ten years. There were 247 children and 236 adults. The mean age of adults was 26.7 years (16–78 years). The sex ratio was 0.2. The mean age of children was 3.5 years (18 month–15 years). All the patients have had first esogastroduodenal endoscopy at j1. The control endoscopy was realized at j21, when the lesions were grade IIB or III as surveillance protocol. A barium swallow was realized at j30 when a gastric or esophageal stenosis was found to appreciate the characteristics of the stenosis. The esophageal stenosis was dilated one month after caustic ingestion with Savary Gilliard dilator. The gastric stenosis underwented a chirurgical treatment.

Results

The most common substance drunken is strong alkali (“decapant de four”) in 77.4%. The strong acid was ingested in 21%. In adults, the caustic ingestion was accidentaly in 63% and for suicide in 37% of the cases. Among children the caustic ingestion was an accident in 85% and for suicide in 15% (teenagers) of the cases. Esophageal caustic injuries were found in 64%. The lesions were very serious in 58% (grades IIB and III) of the cases and less in 42% (grades I and IIA). In 36%, there was not any lesion of upper aerodigestive tract. Gastric lesions were objectived in 12%. All the patients with severe lesions were hospitalized and had exclusion of oral nutrition (resting on the higher tube digestive). Esophageal and gastric stenosis were respectively found in 67.5 and 76% after endoscopy control of lesions IIB and III. The results on long-term of dilatation in esophageal stenosis were very good in 80%; in 20%, the dilation failed then, the patients underwent esophagoplaty. The severe gastric stenosis underwent a gastrectomy or gastroenteroanatomosis.

Conclusion

Ingestion of caustic is a frequent and serious injury whith can occur severe lesions of the gastroesophageal tract. The most common sequella are esophageal stenosis, which occurs a severe dysphasia and a great weigth less.     

Surgical management of esophageal strictures.

Benign esophageal strictures may be caused by numerous disorders, but more than 90% of them are due to severe gastroesophageal reflux or ingestion of lye. A new classification of the severity of the stricture is proposed, based on the endoscopic and radiological evaluation of three parameters: internal diameter, length of the stricture and ease or difficulty of dilatation. In patients with strictures secondary to reflux, initial treatment includes periodic dilatation. Grade I and II strictures require esophageal resection. In grade III patients, bile diversion or esophageal resection should be performed. Caustic ingestion produces a wide spectrum of tissue damage in the upper digestive tract ranging from minimal chemical burn to an extensive and massive necrotic lesion. The basic and main treatment in patients with an established esophageal stricture is periodic dilatation avoiding, if at all possible, any kind of surgery. In patients with grade III stricture, colonic interposition between cervical esophagus and stomach or duodenum is preferred, treating the damaged esophagus by resection or leaving it "in situ". Psychiatric evaluation is mandatory in these cases.     

Experiences with the Montgomery Salivary Bypass Tube (MSBT)

Patients with hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal strictures and fistulas caused by advanced malignancy, ingestion of caustic material, or following surgery or radiation therapy often suffer from marked dysphagia. In such cases the implantation of a Montgomery Salivary Bypass Tube (MSBT) can be an effective therapeutic option to bridge the fistulous tract or bypass a stenosis. Being able to eat and drink without the need for intravenous supplementation or nasogastric or gastrostomy tube feeding in general greatly improves the patient's quality of life. Since 1981 we have successfully inserted the MSBT in 44 cases suffering from dysphagia of different etiology. Our experiences with the indications for implantation, insertion techniques, and postoperative results are presented. Three selected cases of progressive dysphagia in which the MSBT is demonstrated to be the treatment of choice are described in more detail. In one case, a tracheoesophageal fistula and in another a stricture of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) were bypassed so that oral intake of soft food became possible again. The third patient suffered from a disturbance of the esophageal motility after resection of a Hippel-Lindau tumor in the spinal cord and syringe drainage; even swallowing saliva was impeded. After insertion of a MSBT, uncomplicated soft food intake became possible again.     

A new endoscopic technique for suspension of esophageal prosthesis for refractory caustic esophageal strictures

SUMMARY. There is no clear consensus concerning the best endoscopic treatment of benign refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion. Different procedures are currently used: frequent multiple dilations, retrievable self‐expanding stent, nasogastric intubation and surgery. We describe a new technique to fix a suspended esophageal silicone prosthesis to the neck in benign esophageal strictures; this permits us to avoid the frequent risk of migration of the expandable metallic or plastic stents. Under general anesthesia a rigid esophagoscope was placed in the patient's hypopharynx. Using transillumination from the optical device, the patient's neck was pierced with a needle. A n.0 monofilament surgical wire was pushed into the needle, grasped by a standard foreign body forceps through the esophagoscope and pulled out of the mouth (as in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure). After tying the proximal end of the silicone prosthesis with the wire, it was placed through the strictures under endoscopic view. This procedure was successfully utilized in four patients suffering from benign refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion. The prosthesis and its suspension from the neck were well‐tolerated until removal (mean duration 4 months). A postoperative transitory myositis was diagnosed in only one patient. One of the most frequent complications of esophageal prostheses in refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion is distal migration. Different solutions were proposed. For example the suspension of a wire coming from the nose and then fixed behind the ear. This solution is not considered optimal because of patient complaints and moreover the aesthetic aspect is compromised. The procedure we utilized in four patients utilized the setting of a silicone tube hanging from the neck in a way similar to that of endoscopic pharyngostomy. This solution is a valid alternative both for quality of life and for functional results.     

Motility of the transverse colon used for esophageal replacement

The authors studied the motility of transverse colon used for reconstruction of the pharyngogastric transit after esophagectomy. The study included 10 patients who underwent esophagectomy 15 to 201 months (median, 48.5 months) before motility evaluation. Nine patients underwent operation because of caustic injury and one, because of esophageal cancer. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 54 years (median, 36 years). A manometric esophageal catheter with five side holes spaced 5 cm apart (using the continuous perfusion method) was used to record motility. In three patients, it was not possible to introduce the manometric catheter inside the colon interposition. In the other seven, most of the time there was no contraction when motility was recorded. In four, there was contraction only in the segment 2 to 5 cm below the upper esophageal sphincter. In three, there were peristaltic or simultaneous contractions of long duration, sometimes associated with dry or wet swallows. The motility of colon interposition used to restore transit after esophagectomy is similar to that described for the colon. The contractions may be the consequence of graft distention after successive swallows.     

Conservative management of caustic substance ingestion in a pediatric department setting,short‐term and long‐term outcome

Patients with caustic substance ingestion are usually referred to surgery departments where endoscopic evaluation is the first step towards appropriate treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of conservative management of caustic substance ingestion in a pediatric department setting following a standard protocol including endoscopy in selected cases and conservative treatment based on clinical and endoscopy criteria. In this single center observational study, all children admitted for caustic substance ingestion to a pediatric department over an 8‐year‐period were managed according to a standard protocol that included endoscopy within 24 hours, if the endoscopy criteria were met, and conservative treatment as judged appropriate according to endoscopic classification. Patients were followed up for 8–10 years. Of the 24 patients (age 4/12 to 6 years) admitted, 14 met the endoscopy criteria. Grade II and III esophageal burns were found in 10/14 patients, and they were treated with H2‐blockers, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and nutritional support (parenteral in 8/10). Patients with grade II or III esophageal burns necessitated prolonged hospitalization (x ± standard deviation, 23 ± 3 days; range, 21–30 days). Complications included esophageal strictures (n = 1), treated successfully with dilatations, and bleeding (n = 1) treated conservatively. During the 8‐ to 10‐year follow‐up all patients were recorded being well. Based on the study findings it is concluded that conservative management of children with caustic substance ingestion using a standard protocol, including endoscopy as indicated, is feasible within the pediatric department, and conservative treatment on demand is safe and effective in preventing short‐term and long‐term complications.     

Topical mitomycin C can effectively alleviate dysphagia in children with long‐segment caustic esophageal strictures

Caustic ingestion in children and the resulting long esophageal strictures are usually difficult to be managed, and eventually, esophageal replacement was required for cases refractory to frequent dilatation sessions. Topical mitomycin C (MMC) application has been used recently to improve the results of endoscopic dilatation for short esophageal strictures. The study aims to assess the role of MMC application in management of long‐segment caustic esophageal strictures. From January 2009 to June December 2013, patients presented with long caustic esophageal stricture (>3 cm in length) were included in this study and subjected to topical MMC application after endoscopic esophageal dilatation on multiple sessions. Regular follow‐up and re‐evaluation were done. A dysphagia score was used for close follow‐up clinically; verification was done radiologically and endoscopically. During the specified follow‐up period, 21 patients with long caustic esophageal stricture were subjected to topical MMC application sessions. Clinical, radiological, and endoscopic resolution of strictures occurred in 18 patients (85.7% cure rate). Number of dilatation sessions to achieve resolution of dysphagia was (n = 14.3 ± 5.7) with application of mitomycin two to six times. There was no recurrence in short‐ and mid‐term follow‐up. No complications were encountered related to topical MMC application. MMC is a promising agent in management of long‐segment caustic esophageal strictures. Long‐term follow‐up is needed to prove its efficacy and to evaluate potential long‐term side‐effects of MMC application.     

Comparison of clinical outcomes after conservative and surgical treatment of isolated anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

The clinical course and outcome of isolated anastomotic leaks (IALs) after esophagectomy are significantly different from those of necrotic leaks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and long‐term outcome in patients with IALs after esophagectomy with reconstruction for esophageal cancer. A total of 663 patients underwent esophagectomy with esophageal reconstruction because of esophageal cancer between 2000 and 2010 at the Seoul Asan Medical Center. IALs occurred in 23 patients (3.5%). All patients with IAL were male, with a median age of 61 years. Patients with IAL were divided into three groups based on their clinical course. group A comprised patients who had definite clinical symptoms and/or signs indicating mediastinal contamination or leak before routine contrast esophagography was performed. Groups B and C comprised patients who had no definite clinical symptoms and/or signs of leaks before the routine contrast examination. Furthermore, group B contained those patients who resumed oral intake because no leak was found in the routine contrast examination and was diagnosed some days after resuming oral intake. Group C contained those patients who kept fasting because the leak was found in the routine contrast examination. The median follow‐up period was 30 months. The mean time to closure of the IAL was 70.1 ± 96.0 days (range 4–364). There was a 72.7% overall closure rate within 60 days. By univariate analysis, the mean time to closure of the IAL was found to be significantly longer for group A patients or in cases where the patients had an uncontained leak, leukocytosis, or empyema. However, there was no statistically significant differences in age, neoadjuvant treatment, site of anastomosis (cervical vs. thoracic), fever, or treatment of the leak. By multivariate analysis, group A was found to be an independent predictive factor for the time to closure of the IAL. Repeat contrast studies revealed no anastomotic leaks in 18 patients and the formation of contained fistula in four cases (excluding one patient who died in hospital). The four patients with a contained fistula showed no clinical symptoms or signs, and tolerated resumed oral intake. IALs were resolved in most cases with low leak‐related mortality, and resolution of the leaks occurred within 2 months in the majority of patients.     

Esophageal Complications Following Aluminium Phosphide Ingestion: An Emerging Issue Among Survivors of Poisoning

Aluminium phosphide ingestion is the most common agricultural poisoning in suburban and rural India and with a high mortality rate. Among survivors of acute poisoning there are recent sporadic reports of esophageal complications such as esophageal strictures and tracheo-esophageal fistula. The present study was carried out to determine the incidence, natural history, and treatment outcome of local esophageal complications in survivors of aluminium phosphide poisoning with complaints of dysphagia. All confirmed cases of poisoning with aluminium phosphide ingestion were admitted in Hamidia Hospital, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, from October 2007 to October 2008. Survivors with complaints of dysphagia underwent a barium study and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to determine site and nature of esophageal complications. All cases of strictures were treated with fluoroscopy-guided Savary–Gilliard bougie dilation, and patients with tracheo-esophageal fistula underwent surgery. Of 104 confirmed cases, 31 survived. Ten survivors with dysphagia were found to have single short-segment esophageal stricture and two patients with odynophagia and swallow–cough sequence had tracheo-esophageal fistula. All cases of esophageal strictures responded successfully to Savary–Gilliard dilation in six to ten sessions without any major complications. Patients with tracheo-esophageal fistula were treated successfully via surgery. Nearly one-third of survivors of aluminium phosphide ingestion developed esophageal complications. Hence, we conclude that all survivors of aluminium phosphide poisoning must undergo barium swallow and endoscopic examination for early detection of esophageal complications. Prevention of esophageal complications after aluminium phosphide ingestion needs to be given adequate attention because tracheo-esophageal fistula and esophageal stricture are associated with high morbidity. When one finds esophageal stricture or fistula, the possibility of aluminium phosphide ingestion should always be considered.     

Corrosive Substance Ingestion: A Review

Patients who ingest caustic substances continue to pose difficult problems in diagnosis and management. Flexible endoscopy and radiological studies have helped to delineate the extent of damage caused by corrosives. Management techniques have been directed toward avoiding the development of esophageal strictures. Although a number of nonsurgical techniques are available, i.e., stenting, anticollagen agents, antibiotics, and corticosteroids none has been evaluated in well-controlled studies. In the future efforts should be made to evaluate adequately these management techniques. Public health efforts should be made to educate the public about the dangers of caustic substances so that their threat may be diminished.     

Surgical management of esophageal strictures after caustic burns： A 30 years of experience

AIM: To analyze a 30-year historical series of patients treated in our hospital, who ingested corrosive substances, and to assess the effectiveness of surgical therapy administered in patients with strictures after caustic injury in esophagus during this period. METHODS: A total of 79 cases of caustic burns in esophagus were treated in Tangdu Hospital from 1971 to 2001. Their clinical and pathological data were reviewed, and collected from the medical records of patients and interviews with them. RESULTS: More men (n = 61) than women (n = 18) ingested caustic substances with a sex ratio of 3.4:1 during the 30-year period. The caustic materials were liquid lye and acids (54 cases and 25 cases, respectively). Sixty-eight patients were given esophageal replacement in more than three months after caustic injury with no postoperative death, of which 17 cases developed postoperative complications making a complication rate of 25%. The most common one was cervical anastomotic leakage. All patients had improvement in swallowing afterwards. CONCLUSION: The presence and severity of injuries are correlated with the amount of caustic substances ingested. Surgical treatment is a good option in patients with severe strictures, and colonic interposition might be the best surgical process. The most important factors to guarantee a successful outcome for surgery are good vascular supply and absence of tension in the anastomosis.     

Risk factors for stricture development after caustic ingestion

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Stricture of the upper digestive tract is the most feared sequelae of caustic ingestion. Determinant risk factors for its development are not entirely known. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the development of fibrotic strictures induced by caustic ingestion. METHODOLOGY: Clinical, laboratory, radiological and endoscopic data from 48 patients admitted to our department for caustic ingestion were reviewed. All cases were submitted to emergency endoscopy and caustic lesions were graded according to Zargar's classification. Twenty-three patients with severe endoscopic lesions (grade IIb/grade III) and/or acute severe complications (gastrointestinal bleeding, respiratory failure) were admitted to an intensive care unit. After hospital discharge, all patients were followed-up (mean follow-up time: 4.1 +/- 1.8 years). RESULTS: Twelve patients (25%) developed caustic strictures. Four patients (8%) were submitted to surgery for stricture resolution. Factors significantly associated with development of caustic stricture were hematemesis (p = 0.002), serum lactic dehydrogenase > 600 U/L (p = 0.008), grade III lesions (p = 0.0002) and involvement of the entire esophagus (p = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Severe endoscopic lesions, involvement of the entire length of the esophagus, hematemesis and increased serum lactic dehydrogenase represent risk factors for the development of fibrotic strictures induced by caustic ingestion. Assessment of these parameters may contribute to prevent this complication.     

Esophageal foreign bodies: Types and techniques for removal

Opinion statement Patients with esophageal foreign bodies require prompt diagnosis and therapy. The first tasks are to determine the type of object, time since ingestion, location of the object, and the likelihood of associated complications. Patients who have evidence of complete esophageal occlusion or who have ingested a sharp or pointed object require urgent treatment due to the increased risk of complications. Button batteries are particularly injurious in the esophagus and should be removed immediately. Coins in the esophagus should also be removed; however, a brief period of observation is appropriate for coins in the distal esophagus, as some will pass spontaneously. Flexible endoscopy is the therapeutic modality of choice for most patients. The key principles for endoscopic management of esophageal foreign bodies are to protect the airway, to maintain control of the object during extraction, and to avoid causing additional damage. Endotracheal intubation is sometimes necessary, especially in younger children and those at higher risk for aspiration. The use of devices such as an esophageal overtube and a latex protector hood may facilitate safer extraction of sharp/pointed objects. Patients with food impactions usually require treatment of an associated structural lesion of the esophagus.     

Pill-induced esophageal strictures: clinical features and risk factors for development

Clinical data from five subjects with pill-induced esophageal strictures and from the English-language literature on pill-induced esophageal damage were reviewed to determine risk factors for stricture development and to characterize this complication. Including our five cases, 195 patients with pill-induced damage and 39 patients with pill-induced strictures have been reported to date. Seventy-eight percent of the strictures were located in the proximal or mid-esophagus. Potassium chloride or quinidine preparations were incriminated in 60% of cases and were more likely to produce stricture than other medications commonly associated with esophageal damage (e.g., tetracycline). Older age, male gender, left atrial enlargement, ingestion of sustained-release formulations, and prior esophageal structural abnormality were all more commonly present in the subset with strictures (p less than 0.05 for each), even after appropriately controlling for medication. A logistic regression analysis revealed that older age and ingestion of sustained-release formulations were the most significant independent factors associated with stricture development (p less than 0.0001 for each). These findings indicate that stricture formation from pill-induced esophageal damage is dependent upon host-related factors as well as the caustic nature of the pill.