The first of its kind in Syria: A scientific study sheds light on a developed treatment for esophageal burns with caustics in children

Esophageal burns caused by caustics in children are among the serious injuries that affect the esophagus, causing a narrowing of its lumen in some forms, which necessitates dilation of esophagus, which may end with a surgical procedure consisting of replacing it with a colon and placing it as an artificial esophagus, despite the fact that this procedure carries digestive and surgical problems and sometimes delayed growth. The factors leading to harm also vary from alkaline substances, acidic substances, and other substances such as small button cell.

In this context, a research team from Damascus University Children’s Hospital conducted a study in cooperation with Stemosis Foundation for Scientific Research at the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University entitled:

“Clinical Evaluation and Results of Treating Esophageal Burns with Caustics in Syrian Children with High Doses of Steroids (methylprednisolone)” with the aim of studying the role of methylprednisolone, especially at the high dose (1 g/1.73 m2/day) in preventing esophageal strictures resulting from burns with caustics.

This study is of particular importance as it is the first of its kind in Syria as an interventional study that sheds light on a developed treatment for esophageal burns with caustics in children, with a statistical regression study conducted with professionalism and high accuracy.

The study included 114 sick children who visited Children’s Hospital with a complaint of ingesting a caustic substance. The percentage of males was 38% and females 76% from different age groups.

During the study, the researcher applied intravenous methylprednisolone treatment (1 g/1.73 m2/day) as an intravenous infusion over 6 hours a day for 10 days. The results were evaluated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The results of the study showed that the recovery rate after the end of the protocol reached (92%), whether for cases that improved without needing esophageal dilation operations, or those that required esophageal dilation sessions in a smaller number than other cases which did not apply the treatment and improved later.

The study’s recommendation focused on considering this current research the basis for a broader and more comprehensive one based on the application of this dose of methylprednisolone: (1.73 m2/day) to treat esophageal burns with caustics in other hospitals to achieve multi-center research.