Gastro-colic Fistula due to Acid Ingestion

Corrosive ingestion can cause serious damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract. The acute consequences could range from mild erythema to gangrene and perforation. Delayed consequences could be strictures of the oesophagus presenting as dysphagia or gastric, pyloric and antral stenosis presenting as gastric outlet obstruction. Gastro-colic fistula as a complication of acid ingestion is a rare clinical entity. We report this case of a patient who presented with complaints of dysphagia and recurrent vomiting of foul smelling brownish vomitus two months following suicidal acid (sulphuric acid) ingestion. The presence of a gastro-colic fistula was confirmed with a barium meal examination.