Throat-preserving surgery for total esophageal chemical burns in a flowering girl is successful

  In November 2011, a 19-year-old girl, Xiao Jing, a senior high school student, was a top three student in every grade, a good dancer and a small host at school parties. She then went to the local hospital to have her stomach pumped. She was unaware that the vinyl solution she had mistakenly taken was a chemical used to ripen grapes at home. Two months later, Xiao Jing began to have difficulty swallowing, and in mid-May 2012, she began to have difficulty even eating a full liquid diet, and could not even swallow saliva, so she had to rely on a jejunostomy infusion to sustain her life. The company’s main goal is to provide the best possible service to its customers. The laryngectomy meant that the young Xiao Jing would never be able to speak again.  Xiao Jing came to our hospital and underwent interventional imaging to determine the extent of her esophageal burns. The interventional angiogram showed that Xiao Jing had a super high total esophageal burn with an ectopic stenosis, and the uppermost part of the esophagus was only 15 cm from the incisors, which is where the esophagus opens. Only a 3.5 cm long, 2.2 cm diameter lumen of the esophagus was visible in the entire esophagus. Based on the results of the examination after admission, the experts discussed that there was a possibility of preserving the laryngeal function. The cervical segment of the esophagus was first freed in the neck, and the lower edge of the essentially normal segment was incised and dilated by placing a metal probe toward the oral end. If it was possible to dilate more than 10 mm, the first surgical plan was adopted, in which a balloon dilator was placed from the oral end to fix the narrowed part of the cervical esophagus, and the stomach or colon was elevated to the neck and anastomosed with the lower edge of the essentially normal segment of the esophagus to complete the reconstruction of the digestive tract. Postoperatively, the dilating balloon continues to dilate intermittently until the stenotic segment is satisfactorily dilated and the patient is ready for a semi-liquid diet. If dilation with a probe placed toward the mouth end fails to dilate beyond 10 mm, a second surgical plan is used to perform a cervical segmental esophageal stenosis segmental incision and transfer flap repair with a transfer muscle flap of the broad cervical muscle or the pectoralis major muscle together with ENT. Adequate preoperative preparation laid the foundation for a smooth operation. During the operation, the abdominal incision was first performed, and the survey confirmed that there was no lesion in the stomach. In the neck surgery operation session, the cervical segment of the esophagus was freed, a small segment of normal esophagus and the stenosis site were judged, the lower end was ligated, and through a small available segment of the upper end, the stenotic segment near the entrance of the esophagus was started to be dilated with a metal probe, one at a time, slowly to about 9.5 mm, and then a balloon dilator was placed through the nose, and the diameter of the dilated esophagus was up to 1.8 cm. After the gastrointestinal endoscopic survey was correct, the stomach was anastomosed with the available esophagus. The surgery lasted more than three hours and was successfully concluded with the previously anticipated difficulties overcome one by one. After three and a half months of postoperative laryngeal function exercises, Xiao Jing can now eat normally through the mouth.  For the surgical treatment of severe scar stenosis caused by chemical corrosive injury to the whole esophagus, traditionally total laryngectomy, tracheal externalization and digestive tract reconstruction are performed. In Xiao Jing’s case, ordinary imaging may not be able to visualize the esophagus below the entrance due to the severe stenosis at the entrance of the esophagus, so that the esophagus and stomach below the stenosis cannot be further understood; second, because the scar tissue is dense and rigid for more than six months, the general balloon dilation method is not effective. Third, in order to prevent the formation of severe scar stenosis near the entrance of the esophagus, gastroscopy and esophagogram should be performed every six months or so after the injury. If the possibility of severe scar stenosis near the entrance of the esophagus is detected, balloon dilation can be intermittently performed immediately after early detection to prevent further aggravation of the stenosis.