Implications of Social Factors and Management Outcomes Among Patients with Corrosive Ingestion

Abstract

Background: Corrosive poisoning is a growing concern in developing countries and although management options have improved over the years, preventive strategies have failed to provide results. The objective of this study was to determine social and epidemiological factors related to corrosive intake in patients and to assess the effect of these factors on management outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in Surgical Unit-1 of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi from February 2019 to June 2020. Each corrosive poisoning patient’s age, gender, residence, ethnicity, education, and financial status were recorded. Previous psychiatric illnesses were also recorded. Management outcomes in terms of wound infections, anastomotic leaks, weight gain, return to work and mortality were recorded. The correlation between social characteristics and the outcome of management was statistically analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: Out of 70 patients, the majority were females 48(68.6%). Chief suicidal motives included low-income [49(70%)], marital discord [16(22.5%)] and domestic violence [21(29.5%). Education level was the only social factor that was significantly associated with major as well as minor complications after intervention (p=0.021). Only 10(14.3%) patients had an established past psychiatric history. At 6 months follow-up, 57(81.4%) never went back to their original weight and only 22(31.4%) were able to return to work.

Conclusion: Domestic violence was found to be major cause of suicidal intent [21(29.5%)] followed by marital discord [16(22.5%)]. In managing such patients, a multidisciplinary approach including a surgical and gastroenterology team, psychologist and social workers must be employed.

Keywords: Corrosive; Demography; Epidemiology; Jejunostomy.