CAUSTIC INGESTIONS

Course overview

CAUSTIC INGESTION IS THE TERM GIVEN TO DESCRIBE THE INGESTION OF AN EXTREMELY TOXIC SUBSTANCE SUCH AS LYE. CAUSTIC INGESTIONS ARE SERIOUS MEDICAL EMERGENCIES THAT CAN RESULT IN EXTENSIVE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY. THE CARE OF THESE PATIENTS INVOLVES EVERY LEVEL OF THE MEDICAL TEAM EXTENDING FROM POISON CONTROL OUTREACH TO THE SURGEONS ON THE FLOOR. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF CAUSTIC INGESTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.