Simple stricture of the oesophagus
Object numberGC.10616
TitleSimple stricture of the oesophagus
DescriptionOesophagus. Simple stricture.
From a female aged 33 years, who swallowed caustic soda in place of sugar on Chinese New Year five years previously (she admitted that she was drunk). She was staying in Samboe then and was warded in the hospital, where she was treated conservatively for a week and transferred to the General Hospital, Singapore where she was treated with intravenous fluids for a week and then discharged home.
A week after discharge she could not swallow and was warded in Tanjong Pinang Hospital where a gastrostomy was performed. After a month she was discharged and returned to Samboe.
She next went to Djakarta where she was dilated with bougies and was able to eat for three days only. She soon could not swallow again, and a thoracotomy was done and drainage established. Subsequently she had two more operations, one abdominal and one thoracic; she was then able to swallow fluids and take solids. The gastrostomy was closed.
Eighteen months later she found she could not swallow again, and was coughing quite a lot. An X-ray of the chest was taken which was “N.A.D.” The gastrostomy was re-opened. She waited a visa to Singapore. She has had three subsequent operations.
Operation: Oesophago-jejunostomy (attempted but unsuccessful)
Failure to carry out the oesophagus-jejunostomy was due to the dense adhesions around the upper end of the oesophagus and the operation was abandoned.
Post operatively she was restless and dislodged the drainage tube from her pleural cavity.
The patient died two days after operation from pleural effusion, pulmonary collapse and cardiac failure.
At post mortem examination the pleural cavity was seen to be full of blood-stained fluid.
(Vide. Brit. J. Surg. 1954. 42. 39.)
The specimen consists of the lower pharynx, oesophagus and proximal part of the stomach. The oesophagus and pharynx have been opened posteriorly.
There is some superficial scarring of the mucosa of the pharynx in the post cricoid region.
The oesophagus shows general narrowing with two areas of very marked stenosis (a) 1½ inches below the level of the cricoid and (b) one inch above the cardiac orifices
The mucosa of the oesophagus is grossly scarred arid thrown into longitudinal folds.
Production date 1955
Object nameOESOPHAGUS
Object categoryAnatomical, specimen
Dimensions
- Jar Height: 41.5 cm
Width: 20 cm
Depth: 8 cm