[Results of fibrogastroscopic and gastrobioptic examinations after acute acid burn].

The fibrogastroscopic and gastrobioptic examination of 101 patients after acute intoxication with corrosive substances (vinegar essence, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, lyes a. o.) revealed in all cases a chemical erosion of the gastric mucous membrane of different degree, also in such a case, where there existed neither clinical nor radiological symptoms of the corrosive gastritis. Endoscopically the erosions of the mucous membrane were classified into three degrees of severity: Insignificant erosions were characterized by reddening and swelling of the mucous membrane, foamy phlegm and fluid, medium erosions by numerous puncti-form erosions on the hyperaemic oedematous mucous membrane covered with fibrin, severe erosions, finally, by haemorrhages and dark-gray necrotic areas. Pathohistologically in easy erosions were found a serous or catarrhalic-serous inflammation on the 1st to 5th day, a transition of proliferative processes in regenerative ones on the 6st to 10th day and a complete reparative regeneration on the 11th to 20th day. In medium erosion there existed a catarrhalic or catarrhalic-fibrinous inflammation with erosions on the 1st to 10th day; the regeneration of the mucous membrane took place on the 21st to 30th day. Severe erosions were characterized by a phlegmonous-ulcerous or ulcerous-necrotic inflammation between the 16th and 30th day and the reparative-fibrotic transformation of the mucous membrane between the 31st to the 60th day. After severe erosion no restitution ad integrim took place. There developed either a chronic atrophic gastritis or, when an excessive cicatrisation is present, a stenosis of the prepylorus. A control of the patients including endoscopic examinations which are performed to 6 months after easy erosion, up to one year after medium erosion and up to 5 years after severe erosion, is of importance for the estimation of course, therapy and prognosis.