Esophageal chemical injury is a very serious esophageal injury, the process of injury is sudden, post-injury treatment is complex, if not properly managed, it is likely to cause serious complications, and even affect the quality of life for a lifetime. Esophageal chemical injuries mainly refer to the inflammatory damage to the esophagus caused by not taking strong acids or strong bases, and strong bases are more common. These corrosive chemicals can have a very strong corrosive effect on the digestive tract through which they flow, even penetrating the walls of the digestive tract and causing damage to surrounding tissues and organs, such as the trachea. Esophageal chemical injuries mainly affect the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The damage is most severe due to the small space of the esophagus, the full contact of the corrosive material with the wall, and the long contact time. After a chemical esophageal injury, the esophageal wall is corroded to varying degrees and the inflammatory response leads to thickening, scarring, and subsequent narrowing of the esophageal wall. In severe cases, this lesion can affect the floor of the mouth and pharynx upwards and the stomach downwards. The treatment of esophageal chemical injuries is very complicated, and patients often hope to solve the problem of feeding obstruction by simple and repeated dilatation at the beginning, but the results are often not satisfactory, mainly because the lesions of esophageal chemical injuries are very extensive, often from the opening of the esophagus to the full length of the gastroesophageal interface, so there is no way to fully dilate. Secondly, the esophageal wall lesion after chemical injury is irreversible. Therefore, surgical treatment may eventually be an option. This surgical treatment is usually considered 3 months after the lesion. The surgical approach after a chemical esophageal injury is determined by the extent and scope of the lesion and the surgeon’s surgical habits. Key factors include whether or not to remove the esophagus and what alternative is chosen to replace it. It is now generally accepted that the esophagus does not necessarily need to be removed, but left in place and a bypass – a “bridge” connecting the esophagus to the stomach – can be chosen, somewhat like the diversion of the Yellow River after blockage. “We usually choose a section of our own colon as the bridge. Not every thoracic surgeon is familiar with the operation of the colon, so some may prefer the stomach as a “bridge”, but this often requires removal of the esophagus, which may otherwise become dilated and fluid-filled. In addition to the choice of “bridge”, surgical treatment of chemical esophageal injuries is also influenced by the condition of the esophageal opening and pharynx, which can actually make the difference between success and failure. Complete resection of the strictured esophagus and the creation of a new “bridge” between the normal digestive tract is the key to avoiding restenosis after surgery. In any case, it is important to avoid chemical injuries to the esophagus, especially in children, who should not accidentally ingest such chemicals, and to keep corrosive liquids such as toilet bowl cleaner in the home. As for adults, do not choose to take chemically injured liquids orally as a way to hurt yourself, which often results in lifelong life regrets.