Clinical impact of upper gastrointestinal tract injuries in glyphosate-surfactant oral intoxication

Abstract

1 Fifty patients with glyphosate-surfactant oral ingestion were studied with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopic grading using Zargar's modified grading system for mucosal corrosive injury.

2 Esophageal injury was seen in 68% of the patients, gastric injury in 72%, and duodenal injury in 16%. There were no grade 3 injuries. The upper gastrointestinal tract injuries caused by glyphosate-surfactant were minor in comparison with those by other strong acids.

3 The WBC count, amount of glyphosate-surfactant ingested, length of hospital stay and the occurrence of serious complications increased markedly in the group which had grade 2 esophageal injuries. Thus, the severity of the esophageal injuries may be a prognostic factor for the patient with glyphosate-surfactant ingestion.

4 The UGI endoscopy may be indicated for grading esophageal injury in patients who have ingested glyphosate-surfactant in amounts greater than 100 ml. Physicians should pay more attention to the patients with grade 2 or 3 esophageal injuries to prevent serious complications and to provide aggressive supportive care.

Keywords

glyphosate-surfactant esophageal injury endoscopy corrosive injury

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