Esophageal Perforations in Premature Infants and Comments on the Diagnosis

Abstract

Traumatic perforation of the esophagus follows oropharyngeal suctioning or endotracheal intubation. The diagnosis frequently is made from a routine chest roentgenogram that shows a nasogastric tube in the right pleural space with or without a pneumothorax. The lesion is seen most often in infants of low birth weight.