Surgical aspects of esophageal disease: perforation and caustic injury

Esophageal wound healing by aligned smooth muscle cell-laden nanofibrous patch

The esophagus exhibits peristalsis via contraction of circularly and longitudinally aligned smooth muscles, and esophageal replacement is required if there is a critical-sized wound. In this study, we proposed to reconstruct esophageal tissues using cell electrospinning (CE), an advanced technique for encapsulating living cells into fibers that allows control of the direction of fiber deposition. After treatment with transforming growth factor-β, mesenchymal stem cell-derived smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were utilized for cell electrospinning or three-dimensional bioprinting to compare the effects of aligned micropatterns on cell morphology. CE resulted in SMCs with uniaxially arranged and elongated cell morphology with upregulated expression levels of SMC-specific markers, including connexin 43, smooth muscle protein 22 alpha (SM22α), desmin, and smoothelin. When SMC-laden nanofibrous patches were transplanted into a rat esophageal defect model, the SMC patch promoted regeneration of esophageal wounds with an increased number of newly formed blood vessels and enhanced the SMC-specific markers of SM22α and vimentin. Taken together, CE with its advantages, such as guidance of highly elongated, aligned cell morphology and accelerated SMC differentiation, can be an efficient strategy to reconstruct smooth muscle tissues and treat esophageal perforation.

Esophageal perforations - a population-based nationwide study in Sweden with survival analysis

BACKGROUND

Esophageal perforation is a rare and life-threatening condition with several treatment options. The aim was to assess the incidence, type of treatment and mortality of esophageal perforations in Sweden and to identify risk factors for 90-day mortality.

METHOD

All patients admitted with an esophageal perforation from 2007 to 2017 were identified from the National Patient Register. Mortality was assessed by linkage with the Cause of Death Registry. We analyze the incidence and the impact of age, sex, comorbidities on mortality.

RESULTS

879 patients with esophageal perforation were identified, giving an incidence rate of 1.09 per 100,000 person-years. The median age at diagnosis was 68.8 years and 60% were men. The mortality was 26% at 90 days. Independent risk factors for death within 90 days were age (odds ratio (OR): 6.20; 95% (confidence interval) CI: 2.16-17.79 at 60-74 years and OR: 11.58; 95% CI: 4.04-33.15 at 75 years or older), peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.44-5.92) and underlying malignant disease (OR: 5.91; 95% CI: 3.86-9.03). In patients younger than 45 years, survival was lower among women than among men (at 5 years 73 and 93%, respectively). The cause of death among young women was often drug-related or suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

90-day mortality was 26%, old age, vascular disease and underlying malignant disease were risk factors.

Corrosive Esophagitis and Gastritis Induced by Glutaraldehyde Ingestion

Corrosive esophagitis and gastritis are characterized by caustic damage due to ingestion of chemical agents. Caustic agents cause tissue destruction through liquefaction or coagulation reactions. Here, we report a case of corrosive esophagitis and gastritis caused by accidental ingestion of glutaraldehyde in Korea. A 62-year-old man presented to the emergency department 8 hours after ingesting glutaraldehyde, which is widely used for the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs. Urgent endoscopic examination revealed severely damaged mucosae of the esophagus and stomach. With conservative treatment, the patient’s condition was improved, and he was discharged on the 35th day of admission.

The Use of Fluorescence Imaging in Colon Interposition for Esophageal Replacement: A Technical Note

Every field of surgery has seen an explosion of new technologies aimed at improving surgical technique and reducing complications. The use of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence to assess perfusion has been described in several surgical disciplines. NIR provides the surgeon with real-time perfusion assessment of a target organ or anastomosis and can be invaluable in aiding decision-making during the index operation. In the following article we discuss the use of fluorescence-guided perfusion assessment during colonic interposition for esophageal replacement. To our knowledge this is the first description of the use of fluorescence-guided perfusion assessment during colonic interposition.

Clinical Spectrum and Management of Caustic Ingestion: A Case Series Presenting Three Opposing Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Ingestion of caustic substances is a medical emergency in both the adult and pediatric population and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The extent of injuries after ingestion of caustic substances depends on the nature, amount, and concentration of the agent and on the exposure time. Acutely, caustic substances may cause massive hemorrhage and gastrointestinal tract perforation; the most markedly affected cases require urgent surgical treatment. Patients surviving the initial event may present with aorto-enteric or gastrocolic fistulae, esophageal strictures, dysphagia, and increased risk of esophageal cancer as long term sequelae.

CASE REPORT

The features of three cases of caustic ingestion are reported to demonstrate significantly different complaints presented at the emergency department. Two patients had free gastric perforation, one at presentation, and one delayed. The third patient presented with late severe strictures of the esophagus and pylorus. The outcomes of the three patients are discussed in detail along with the most current management strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Among adults, ingestion of caustic substances is usually associated with more severe lesions due to the increased amount of ingested substance, as compared with pediatric patients. The most serious presentation is that of visceral perforation, most commonly of the stomach and rarely of the esophagus. Management involves urgent resuscitation with correction of fluid and electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities and immediate surgical exploration in those patients with signs of perforation. Once the perioperative period is managed successfully, the long-term results can be satisfactory. Managing of strictures or else reconstructive procedures must be well timed to allow for psychological and nutritional rehabilitation.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE CORROSIVE INTOXICATION IN ADULTS

INTRODUCTION

Acute intoxications with corrosive substances can cause severe chemical injuries of the upper gastrointestinal tract, most often located in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach and duodenum. If a patient survives the acute phase of intoxication, regenerative response may result in esophageal and/or gastric stenosis, and increased risk of esophageal and gastric cancer. Such intoxication may be fatal due to perforation or tracheal necrosis. Enteral nutrition is a nutritional method when nutritional substances are administered through specially designed tubing placed through the nose or percutaneously, directly into the GIT.

AIM

The aim of this study is to describe the methods of artificial nutrition in patients with acute corrosive intoxications and the importance of nutritional support in the treatment of these intoxications.

DISCUSSION

Nutrition in the treatment of acute corrosive intoxications is one of the most important therapeutic processes that largely contribute to faster recovery of the post-corrosive injuries of upper GIT, stabilization of biologic, immunologic and metabolic parameters, and reduction of length of stay in hospital Aim of the treatment of acute corrosive intoxications is to prevent perforation and progressive fibrosis, and esophageal and gastric stenosis. There are different and often conflicting positions, on the conservative treatment of acute corrosive intoxications in adults. Such treatment mainly consists of anti-secretory treatment, antibiotics and intensive hyper-alimentation, aiming to prevent late post-corrosive intoxications.

CONCLUSION

It is considered that nutritional support plays a major role in maintenance of metabolic processes and prevention of severe metabolic complications that could additionally aggravate the condition and impair the treatment.

Rare cause of oesophagus perforation

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Oesophagus perforation is a very serious clinical event.

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Mortality rates increase because inexperienced physicians cannot make a diagnosis.

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Although there is no consensus in literature on surgical treatment choices.

INTRODUCTION

Oesophagus perforations, which are generally caused by iatrogenic injuries, are a serious clinical event. There are still high rates of mortality and morbidity and there is no gold standard of surgical treatment.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

The case is here presented of a 54-year old female with complaints of dysphagia after having swallowed a bone in food, who was determined with oesophagus perforation on CT examination.

DISCUSSION

Oesophagus perforation generally occurs secondary to interventional procedures and rarely develops associated with foreign bodies. Treatment depends on the perforation site and dimension.

CONCLUSION

While conservative primary surgical repair may be chosen for cervical lesions, more aggressive approaches such as resection and delayed reconstruction are recommended for thoracic lesions. Early determination and appropriate treatment are life-saving.

Influence of age on the survival and mortality rate in acute caustic poisonings

Objective:

Acute poisonings with caustic substances can cause severe chemical injuries to the upper gastrointestinal tract, which can be localized from the mouth to the small intestines. They are seen very often among young people in their most productive years. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of patient’s age on the mortality rate and survival of patients with acute caustic poisonings, and also to analyze their correlation.

Material and Methods:

We studied medical records from 415 patients, aged between 14 and 90 years, who were hospitalized and treated at the University Clinic for toxicology and urgent internal medicine, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, in the period between 2007 and 2011.

Results:

In the survey we included 415 patients with acute corrosive poisonings, from which 295 (71.08%) were females and 120 (28. 92%) were males. 388 (93.49%) from the total number of patients ingested the corrosive agent with suicidal attempt and 27 (6.5%) ingested it accidentally.

Conclusion:

Unregulated production, import, packing and labeling of various caustic agents, due to inappropriate legislative, made them one of the most often abused substances in everyday life, especially in developing countries where the number of caustic poisonings rises.

Evidence-based recommendations on upper gastrointestinal tract stenting: a report from the stent study group of the korean society of gastrointestinal endoscopy

Endoscopic stents have evolved dramatically over the past 20 years. With the introduction of uncovered self-expanding metal stents in the early 1990s, they are primarily used to palliate symptoms of malignant obstruction in patients with inoperable gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. At present, stents have emerged as an effective, safe, and less invasive alternative for the treatment of malignant GI obstruction. Clinical decisions about stent placement should be made based on the exact understanding of the patient's condition. These recommendations based on a critical review of the available data and expert consensus are made for the purpose of providing endoscopists with information about stent placement. These can be helpful for management of patients with inoperable cancer or various nonmalignant conditions in the upper GI tract.

Conservative therapeutic approach to corrosive poisonings in adults

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we assess the effectiveness of a conservative therapeutic treatment of acute corrosive poisonings in adults, and we define therapeutic protocols based on clinical and endoscopic criteria.

METHODS

We analyzed clinical records of patients with acute corrosive poisonings who were hospitalized and treated at the Toxicology Clinic at the University of Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, during a 5-year period (2006-2010). A total of 481 patients' records with cases of acute corrosive poisonings were analyzed. There were 317 female (65.9 %) and 164 male (34.1 %) patients. The purpose of the therapy in the cases of acute corrosive poisonings is to prevent perforation as well as progressive fibrosis and stenosis of the esophagus and stomach. Therapeutic approach mainly consists of proton pump inhibitors, H(2) blockers, antibiotics, and intensive hyperalimentation. There are different opinions regarding conservative treatment of acute corrosive poisonings in adults.

CONCLUSION

Based on our study of corrosive poisonings of adults, we propose a list of optimal treatment recommendations.

Corrosive poisonings in adults

Ingestion of corrosive substances may cause severe to serious injuries of the upper gastrointestinal tract and the poisoning can even result in death. Acute corrosive intoxications pose a major problem in clinical toxicology since the most commonly affected population are the young with psychic disorders, suicidal intent and alcohol addiction. The golden standard for determination of the grade and extent of the lesion is esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed in the first 12-24 hours following corrosive ingestion. The most common late complications are esophageal stenosis, gastric stenosis of the antrum and pyloris, and rarely carcinoma of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of the acute corrosive intoxications include: neutralization of corrosive agents, antibiotics, anti-secretory therapy, nutritional support, collagen synthesis inhibitors, esophageal dilation and stent placement, and surgery.

A case of rapid diagnosis of Boerhaave syndrome by thoracic drainage

BACKGROUND

Boerhaave syndrome is a rare and often fatal syndrome. Delayed diagnosis and treatment is closely associated with prolonged morbidity and increased mortality. In general, esophagography is usually chosen as the diagnostic procedure, but it has a relatively high false-negative rate. There are no reports, to our knowledge, regarding the efficacy of thoracic drainage, although it is easier to perform and more immediate than esophagography in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES

To report the efficacy of thoracic drainage for rapid diagnosis and treatment of Boerhaave syndrome.

CASE REPORT

An 80-year-old woman was admitted with vomiting and sudden onset of postprandial chest pain radiating to the back. Initially, myocardial infarction or aortic dissection was suspected, but was excluded by point-of-care tests and computed tomography (CT) scan, which revealed a left-sided pneumothorax, heterogeneous left pleural effusion, and pneumomediastinum at the lower level of the esophagus. Boerhaave syndrome was suspected and confirmed by thoracic drainage, which drained off bloody fluid and residual food such as broccoli. Emergency thoracotomy was performed within 4 h after onset of symptoms. The patient made an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSION

Findings in this case indicate that chest pain, left-sided massive effusion on chest radiography, and left-sided massive heterogeneous effusion on CT scan are important for the diagnosis of Boerhaave syndrome. Subsequent thoracic drainage is useful for confirming Boerhaave syndrome, and such a strategy might lead to a good prognosis for patients with this rare but critical disease.

Spectrum of sodium hypochlorite toxicity in man-also a concern for nephrologists

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the active ingredient in household bleach and is a very common chemical. It has been used in medical and commercial situations dating back to the 18th century for its disinfectant properties, including topical use in medicine as an antiseptic. For this indication, NaOCl is a proven and safe chemical. However, exposure of NaOCl beyond topical use, whether it is intentional or accidental, is associated with significant risks due to its strong oxidizing properties. Potentially damaging scenarios include ingestion, inhalation, deposition into tissue or injection into the bloodstream. All of these scenarios can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. In this review, we examine the toxicity associated with NaOCl exposure and analyze potential mechanisms of injury, placing special emphasis on the potential for renal toxicity. Due to the extreme ease of access to household bleach products and its use in medicine, it is important for the clinician to understand the potential damage that can occur in NaOCl exposures so that complications can be prevented before they arise.

Expandable stents for benign esophageal disease

Partially covered self-expandable esophageal stents have been associated with unacceptable complications when used for benign esophageal disorders. With the introduction of removable or potentially removable fully covered stents and biodegradable stents, interest in using expandable stents for benign indications has been revived. Although expandable stents can offer a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, they can be associated with serious complications; hence, this approach should be considered in carefully selected patients, preferably on a protocol basis.

Utility of removable esophageal covered self-expanding metal stents for leak and fistula management

BACKGROUND

Esophageal or gastric leakage from anastomotic wound dehiscence, perforation, staple line dehiscence, or trauma can be a devastating event. Traditional therapy has often consisted of either surgical repair for rapidly diagnosed leaks or diversion for more complicated cases, commonly associated with a delayed diagnosis. This study summarizes our experience treating leaks or fistulas with novel, covered self-expanding metal stents (cSEMS). The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of covered self-expanding metal stents when used to treat complicated leaks and fistulas.

METHODS

Over 15 months, 25 patients with esophageal or gastric leaks were evaluated for stenting as primary treatment. A prospective database was used to collect data. Stents were placed endoscopically, with contrast evaluation used for leak evaluation. Patients who did not improve clinically after stenting or whose leak could not be sealed underwent operative management.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up of 15 months, 23 of the 25 patients with esophageal or gastric leaks during a 15-month period were managed with endoscopic stenting as primary treatment. Healing occurred in patients who were stented for anastomotic leakage after gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy (n = 10). One patient with three esophageal iatrogenic perforations healed with stenting. Eight patients successfully avoided esophageal diversion and healed with stenting and adjunctive therapy. Two of the 4 patients with tracheoesophageal fistulas sealed with the assistance of a new pexy technique to prevent stent migration; 1 additional patient had this same technique used to successfully heal an upper esophageal perforation.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophageal leaks and fistulas can be effectively managed with cSEMS as a primary modality. The potential benefits of esophageal stenting are healing without diversion or reconstruction and early return to an oral diet.

Combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy and gastric pull-up in a child

Severe caustic burns to the esophagus may necessitate esophagectomy with replacement, if stictures form which are not amenable to dilation. Traditionally, the operation is performed via open transabdominal and/or thoracic approaches. Here we describe our minimally invasive approach, combining laparoscopy and thoracoscopy for esophagectomy, stomach tubularization and a cervical esophagogastrotomy. We successfully performed the procedure in a 4-year-old boy. There were no intraoperative complications, and his initial esophagram showed good patency with no leaks. However, one week postoperatively he was noted to have a retained foreign body and a minor anastomotic leak, which was most likely caused by the foreign body. He underwent a neck re-exploration,removal of the foreign body, and repair of the anastomotic leak. His subsequent hospital course was uneventful. He tolerated feedings and was discharged home on an unrestricted diet. The minimally invasive approach to esophagectomy and esophageal replacement is feasible and is an excellent option in select patients.

Perforation after rigid pharyngo-oesophagoscopy: when do symptoms and signs develop?

BACKGROUND

Perforation after pharyngo-oesophagoscopy is a serious complication, and its identification, through close patient monitoring, is essential. Yet little is known about when symptoms and signs develop, and thus how long any close monitoring should last.

AIM

To examine the timing of individual symptoms and signs of perforation after rigid pharyngo-oesophagoscopy.

METHODOLOGY

Three-centre, retrospective study.

RESULTS

Of 3459 patients undergoing rigid pharyngo-oesophagoscopy, 10 (0.29 per cent) developed perforations, nine of which were suspected intra-operatively. Symptoms and signs developed at 1.5 hours post-operatively at the earliest, and at 36 hours at the latest. Three patients were asymptomatic. The majority of procedures (n = 8) were undertaken for food bolus obstruction or foreign body ingestion.

CONCLUSION

Pharyngo-oesophagoscopy for food bolus obstruction and foreign body ingestion accounts for a large number of perforations, but symptoms and signs may take longer than 24 hours to develop. A contrast swallow should be considered in high risk patients, and a high index of suspicion maintained in order to detect this complication.

Is esophagoscopy necessary for corrosive ingestion in adults?

The aim of the study was to determine whether early esophagoscopy is really necessary for the patients who have ingested a corrosive agent. Patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of corrosive ingestion in our clinic between the years 1998 and 2008 were studied retrospectively. The data were collected through the medical records of the patients and from interviews with them. The analyzed parameters included age, gender, the nature and the amount of the ingested agent, whether the event was accidental or suicidal, diagnostic tools, treatment and the results of the treatment, and long-term follow up. Over a 10-year period, a total of 124 cases of corrosive ingestion cases were determined. Of these, 64 (51.6%) were male and 60 (48.4%) were female. The mean age was 38 +/- 17.5 years. The most commonly ingested corrosive agents were sodium hypochlorite in 50 (40.3%) patients and hydrochloric acid in 33 (26.6%) patients. The mean admission time for the emergency department after ingestion of the corrosive agent was 2.5 +/- 3.7 hours. Ingestion was accidental in 82% of the patients and as a result of a suicide attempt in 18%. The amount of ingested corrosive agent in the suicidal group (190 +/- 208.3 mL) was higher than that of accidental group (66 +/- 58.3 mL) (P= 0.012). Nine patients underwent esophagoscopy, six of which were performed in other clinical centers. Only three (2.4%) patients experienced esophageal stricture, which were treated with repeated dilatations. In the long-term follow up, we could get in touch with only 63 patients and none of them had complications due to corrosive ingestion. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 120 months (median 45 +/- 29.2 months). Based on our study, early esophagoscopy appears to be unnecessary in adult patients who ingested the corrosive agent accidentally. A larger prospective study is needed to answer the question.

Perfuração de esôfago: análise de 11 casos

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o tratamento de 11 pacientes com perfuração de esôfago. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 11 casos de perfuração esofágica tratados pelo autor no Hospital Getúlio Vargas, no período de setembro de 2001 a março de 2008. RESULTADOS: Em seis pacientes (54,5%), a perfuração era no esôfago cervical, quatro (36,4%) no torácico e um (9,1%) no abdominal. A etiologia da lesão foi corpo estranho em cinco casos, arma branca em dois e os outros foram por arma de fogo, dilatação endoscópica, ingestão de substância cáustica e trauma contuso. Diagnóstico e tratamento nas primeiras 24 horas ocorreu em três (27,3%) pacientes e após 24 horas em oito casos (72,7%). O tratamento conservador foi instituído para dois (18,2%), que evoluíram bem e o cirúrgico para nove (81,9%), dentre os quais houve dois óbitos. CONCLUSÃO: a perfuração esofágica é grave, mas um tratamento precoce e adequado pode resultar na sobrevida da maioria dos pacientes.

Treatment of thoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks and esophageal perforations with endoluminal stents: efficacy and current limitations

BACKGROUND

Intra-thoracic esophageal leakage after esophageal resection or esophageal perforation is a life-threatening event. The objective of this non-randomized observational study was to evaluate the effects of endoluminal stent treatment in patients with esophageal anastomotic leakages or perforations in a single tertiary care center.

METHODS

Thirty-two consecutive patients with an intrathoracic esophageal leak, caused by esophagectomy (n = 19), transhiatal gastrectomy (n = 3), laparoscopic fundoplication (n = 2), and iatrogenic or spontaneous perforation (n = 8), undergoing endoscopic stent treatment were evaluated. Hospital stay, mortality and morbidity, sealing rate, extraction rates, complications, and long-term effects were measured.

RESULTS

Median time interval between diagnosis and stent treatment was 3 and 5 days, respectively. Eighteen patients had futile surgical closure of the defect before stenting, while in 14 patients, stent placement was the primary treatment for leakage. Stent placement was technically correct in all patients. Functional sealing was achieved in 78%. Mortality was 15.6%. Stent extraction rate was 70%. Overall method-related complications occurred in nine patients (28%).

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of self-expanding stents after esophageal resection or perforation is a feasible and safe procedure with an acceptable morbidity even if used as last-choice treatment.

Stents in the GI tract

The application of stents in the GI tract has expanded tremendously. Stent placement is the most frequently used treatment modality for palliating dysphagia from esophageal or gastric cardia cancer. Newly designed esophageal stents, including the Polyflex stent and the Niti-S double stent, have been introduced to reduce recurrent dysphagia owing to migration or nontumoral or tumor overgrowth. Stents are also the treatment of choice for esophagorespiratory fistulas, for proximal malignant lesions near the upper esophageal sphincter, for recurrent carcinoma after esophagectomy or gastrectomy and for sealing traumatic or iatrogenic nonmalignant ruptures, such as Boerhaave's syndrome and leakages following surgery. Stents in the latter patient group should be removed within 4-8 weeks after placement to prevent the formation of granulation tissue or hyperplasia at the stent ends. For gastric outlet obstruction, many case series have been published. Only two, small, randomized controlled trials have compared stent placement with gastrojejunostomy to date, and a large, randomized trial is currently being conducted in The Netherlands. Obstructive jaundice caused by a malignancy in the common bile duct can be treated effectively with plastic or metal stent placement. However, a prognostic score needs to be developed that guides a treatment decision towards using either of these stents. Finally, colonic stents are applied successfully for acute malignant obstruction as a 'bridge to surgery' in patients with tumors that are deemed to be resectable, or as a palliative treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Oesophageal and tracheal perforation in thyroid B-cell lymphoma

We report an unusual case of spontaneous oesophageal and tracheal perforation secondary to thyroid B-cell lymphoma in a previously healthy 76-year-old woman. Findings on chest radiography, CT and oesophagram are correlated to endoscopy, surgery and pathology. Such perforation is a rare and serious complication that should be specifically considered when a patient with a neck neoplasm develops acute respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms.

Treatment of perforation in the healthy esophagus: analysis of 12 cases

BACKGROUND

Perforation of the esophagus still carries high morbidity and mortality rates, and there is no gold standard for the surgical treatment of choice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the records of patients treated for esophageal perforation in the last decade at the General Surgery Unit of the University of Udine. Patients suffering from perforation secondary to surgical procedures or neoplastic disease were ruled out.

RESULTS

Eight males (66.7%) and four females (33.3%) met the inclusion criteria. The cause of perforation was iatrogenic in seven cases (58.3%) and spontaneous in five (41.7%). The perforation was in the cervical esophagus in five cases (41.7%) and at thoracic level in the other seven (58.3%). Two patients (16.7%) with cervical lesions were treated conservatively; two (16.7%) underwent primary closure and the insertion of a drainage tube; one patient with a distal cervical lesion underwent diversion esophagostomy; six patients had resection of the entire thoracic esophagus and terminal cervical esophagostomy; one had segmental resection of the distal thoracic esophagus and lateral diversion esophagostomy. In the five patients whose reconstruction was postponed, esophagogastroplasty surgery was performed with an anastomosis at cervical level in four cases and at thoracic level in one. The global mortality rate was 25%. Late diagnosis-more than 24 h after the perforation event-seems to be the only factor correlated with fatal outcome (p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of treatment for perforation in a healthy esophagus depends mainly on the site and size of the lesion. Cervical lesions may be amenable to conservative treatment or require primary surgical repair, while thoracic lesions with associated sepsis or major loss of substance demand an aggressive approach, with esophageal resection and delayed reconstruction seeming to be the safest option.

Updates on the Evaluation and Management of Caustic Exposures

In 2004, the American Association of Poison Control Centers' Toxic Exposure Surveillance System documented over 200,000 exposures to caustic substances, in both household and industrial products. Although the most commonly affected body areas are the face, eyes, and extremities, all reported fatalities were as a result of ingestion. Little controversy exists in patient management following dermal or ocular caustic exposure. Immediate water irrigation of the site of caustic exposure, followed by routine burn care, analgesia, intravenous fluids, and electrolyte replacement are standards of care. In this manuscript, a thorough review of the management of gastrointestinal caustic exposure is explored, not only because of the high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with these exposures, but also because there remains controversy regarding appropriate management of such exposures. Hydrofluoric acid, a weak acid in its aqueous form, requires special consideration and specific antidotes, and as such, is addressed separately.

Successful Management of Esophageal Perforation Diagnosed 3 Days After Injury Caused by an Explosion in the Workplace: Report of a Case

We report a case of esophageal perforation caused by an explosion, but which was not diagnosed until 3 days after the injury. A 53-year-old worker sustained superficial dermal burns to his trachea, face, neck, and legs during an explosion. The burns were treated conservatively at a local hospital, but he was transferred to our hospital 3 days after the injury, when mediastinal emphysema and bilateral pleural effusion became evident. An esophagogram followed by computed tomography showed an esophageal perforation caused by the blast injury, and we performed an esophagectomy with recontruction of the gastric tube. After the operation, an X-ray showed a foreign body in the lower abdomen, which we found in the upper thoracic esophagus on the day of injury. We surmised that the patient had inadvertently swallowed a foreign body, which had been heated and scattered by the explosion, and it had melted the upper thoracic esophagus.