Diagnosis and treatment of patients with esophageal perforation and rupture

Abstract

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 17 patients with esophageal perforation and rupture from August 2007 to December 2011. Among them, there were spontaneous esophageal rupture (n=6), esophageal perforation caused by foreign bodies (n=8) and iatrogenic injury (n=3). Family members gave up treatment because of critical illness (n=2), conservative treatment was offered for surgical intolerance (n=1) and all others (n=14) underwent operation (thoractomy, n=13; neck incision, n=1). One patient with conservative treatment and another two surgical cases died. The other 12 cases recovered. Therefore individualized treatment is essential for the patients with esophageal perforation and rupture. Key words: Esophageal perforation; Esophageal rupture