Esophageal complications following aluminium phosphide ingestion: an emerging issue among survivors of poisoning.

Aluminium phosphide ingestion is the most common agricultural poisoning in suburban and rural India and with a high mortality rate. Among survivors of acute poisoning there are recent sporadic reports of esophageal complications such as esophageal strictures and tracheo-esophageal fistula. The present study was carried out to determine the incidence, natural history, and treatment outcome of local esophageal complications in survivors of aluminium phosphide poisoning with complaints of dysphagia.

Rigiflex pneumatic dilation of achalasia without fluoroscopy: a novel office procedure.

Background: Pneumatic balloon dilation is the most effective nonsurgical treatment to relieve functional obstruction of the gastroesophageal junction in achalasia. Since its inception, the conventional technique has been performed under direct fluoroscopic control with or without a guidewire. To overcome the impediments of the conventional technique and radiation exposure, we have devised a novel technique of achalasia dilation without fluoroscopy.