Endoscopy · 2011 · 36 citations · 0 references
MedicineEmergency MedicineSurgeryEmergency SurgeryGastroenterologyGeneral SurgeryEndoscopic SurgeryEsophageal DiseasesEsophageal SurgeryGastrointestinal PerforationMinimally Invasive SurgeryEsophageal Foreign Body IngestionEsophageal Foreign Body PerforationIatrogenic Gastrointestinal PerforationMinimally Invasive Esophageal SurgeryMortality RatesSpontaneous Gastrointestinal PerforationTraumatic Gastrointestinal PerforationTreatment Algorithm Development
Esophageal perforation is a dreaded condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. The diagnosis often depends on clinical suspicion, features, and radiographic or endoscopic testing confirming an esophageal leak. The most common cause of esophageal perforation is secondary to an iatrogenic injury but it can also be the result of spontaneous perforation, chemical or foreign body ingestion, and penetrating trauma. Hence, due to mortality rates as high as 20 %, a high index of suspicion and established treatment algorithms are paramount [1].