Abstract
We report two patients who underwent surgical treatment for corrosive stricture of both the hypopharynxand the esophagus. Case 1 was a 47-year-old man with schizophrenia who had drunk 10% KOH-a commonlyavailable cleaning agent. He underwent cervical and mediastininal drainage due to esophageal perforation. Onthe 209th day after swallowing the hydroxide, he underwent resection of the hypopharynx, larynx, and cervicalesophagus followed by an esophageal bypass using the colon. The postoperative course was uneventful. Hewas able to take solid food and was discharged on the 95th day after the operation. Case 2 was a 58-year-oldwoman with depression who had attempted suicide with KOH and NaOH cleaning fluid. We performed anesophageal bypass using the colon without laryngectomy on the 323rd day after swallowing the hydroxide.Postoperatively, she could not take food orally due to repeated aspiration. We therefore performed laryngealpull-up on the 181st postoperative day. Aspiration was still not improved, so she underwent laryngectomy onthe 219th day after the 1st operation. Finally, she could take solid food, and was discharged. In choosing the operativeprocedure to treat corrosive stricture of the hypopharynx and the esophagus, especially whether ornot to preserve the larynx, required considerations include the extent of the hypopharyngeal injury, the willand consent of the patient and family, and the patient's background including who takes care of the patient, because such patients frequently have some mental illness.
