Distal Esophageal Rupture after External Blunt Trauma

Abstract

Thoracic esophageal rupture secondary to blunt trauma is an extremely rare injury, with only six reported cases in the world literature. We report two cases with unique presentations of rupture of the distal thoracic esophagus after blunt trauma. Both patients were treated initially by wide mediastinal drainage and primary repair. One patient developed an anastomotic leak and required esophageal stapling and proximal end-cervical esophagostomy. Both patients survived.