Aluminum phosphide-induced esophageal stricture: an unusual complication.

Six patients (three men and three wom− en; mean age 25.3 years, range 12 ± 56) in− gested tablets of Celphos (aluminum phosphide, weight 3 g, diameter 15 mm) with suicidal intentions (66.6 %) or acci− dentally (33.3%). All of the patients vom− ited out the partially dissolved tablet 15 min later. They were managed with symptomatic treatment. All of the pa− tients had progressive dysphagia for the following 10.5  5.43 days. Barium swal− low examinations revealed strictures 0.8  0.22 cm long in the mid−esophagus, with proximal dilation (Figure 1). Endos− copy showed circumferential ulcerations and strictures at 26.8  3.12 cm (Figure 2). Biopsies from the ulcers showed infiltra− tion with neutrophils, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts. All of the patients underwent dilation treatment with Savary±Gilliard dilators 6 weeks after ingesting the Cel− phos tablets, at 2−week intervals. They re− ceived 7.66  7.06 dilation sessions. One patient developed a tracheoesophageal fistula [1] during the course of the illness while receiving treatment in the dilation program.