Medical

Caustic ingestion / airway burns

Before / During / After / Pitfalls

Before

• Assess drooling, stridor, voice change, burns, vomiting; call ENT/GI/anesthesia early.
• Avoid blind NG/oral instrumentation unless directed.
• Prepare for progressive edema and difficult airway.

During

• Controlled airway if needed; avoid traumatic attempts.
• Suction secretions and protect from aspiration.
• Have surgical airway backup for distorted upper airway.

After

• GI/ENT/ICU management and endoscopy timing per protocol.
• Monitor edema progression.
• Pain/sedation and aspiration management.

Pitfalls

• Underestimating delayed edema.
• Traumatic instrumentation.
• No specialty involvement.