Caustic Esophagitis — Zargar Grade IIb/III

A 19-year-old woman presents to the ED 6 hours after intentional ingestion of liquid drain cleaner (sodium hydroxide). She has odynophagia, drooling, and chest pain. Vital signs are stable, no respiratory distress, and CXR shows no perforation. Upper endoscopy performed at 18 hours reveals circumferential deep ulceration with adherent black-brown eschar and exposed muscularis in the mid-esophagus, consistent with Zargar Grade IIIa. The management approach marked **B** in the diagram is most appropriate for this patient. Which of the following is NOT part of the recommended management strategy shown at **B**?