Thoracic Esophageal Perforations

The authors review their experience with thoracic esophageal perforation at Inova Fairfax Hospital, June 1, 1988, to March 1, 2009. With the exception of 6 patients with occult perforation, all of whom survived with nonoperative therapy, aggressive surgical intervention was the standard approach. Among patients treated aggressively with surgery within 24 hours of perforation, hospital survival was 97 per cent versus 89 per cent for patients treated aggressively surgically after 24 hours. In the absence of phlegmon, implacable obstruction, or delay, primary repair resulted in 100 per cent survival. Where phlegmon or resolute obstruction existed, resection and reconstruction resulted in 96 per cent survival. Even when patients were deemed too ill to undergo surgery, cervical diversion was 100 per cent effective in eradicating continuing leak and achieved 89 per cent survival. Endoesophageal stenting was applied as primary treatment or secondarily such as where leak complicated primary repair. When stenting was used as the initial and primary treatment modality, survival was 88 per cent. Targeted drainage was helpful on occasion as an adjunct to initial therapies. Comfort measures alone were appropriate when clinical circumstances merited no effort at resuscitation. Finally, survivors were asked to self-categorize their ability to swallow; 95 per cent responded good to excellent.