Some observations on acquired oesophageal obstruction in paediatric patients in Tanzania: a 5-year review.

Thirteen consecutive paediatric patients with acquired oesophageal obstruction were managed at the Paediatric Surgical Unit (PSU) of Muhimbili Medical Centre (MMC), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between January 1988 and December, 1992 inclusive. There were seven males and six females. The ages of onset ranged from the neonatal period to 6 years, with seven (54%) of them being within 2 years of age. Ten (77%) of the patients had corrosive strictures, caused by the ingestion of caustic soda 4, hair-plaiting chemicals 5, and kerosene one. Two of the remaining patients had non-corrosive strictures following measles in one and candidiasis in the other, while in the last case (a newborn), the obstruction was due to post-traumatic retropharyngeal haematoma from attempted infanticide. All but one of the patients were managed with oesophageal dilation, with or without a preliminary feeding gastrostomy. Six (50%) of the stricture cases died, all of them having had corrosive strictures. The main cause of mortality was complications of oesophageal dilatation.