Successfully treated case of cervical abscess and mediastinitis due to esophageal perforation after gastrointestinal endoscopy

• Published in: Diseases of the esophagus 2002-01, Vol.15 (3), p.250-252
• Main Authors: Sato, S., Kajiyama, Y., Kuniyasu, T., Machida, M., Ouchi, K., Sakai, N., Sakamoto, S., Iwanuma, Y., Kamano, T., Okamura, S., Nagahama, A., Tsurumaru, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscess - diagnosis; Abscess - etiology; Abscess - therapy; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Drainage - methods; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal - adverse effects; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal - methods; Esophageal Perforation - diagnosis; Esophageal Perforation - etiology; Esophageal Perforation - surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Male; Mediastinitis - diagnosis; Mediastinitis - etiology; Mediastinitis - therapy; Risk Assessment; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1120-8694; 1442-2050
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-2050.2002.00253.x

Perforations of the esophagus are uncommon complications of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy. Perforations after endoscopy are likely to occur in the cervical esophagus, where fiber insertion is difficult anatomically. The diagnosis should be made as soon as possible, because mediastinitis and sepsis frequently develop following esophageal perforations. The surgical strategies are dependent on the location of the perforations and the condition of the patients. For a successful outcome, surgery is a preferred treatment for most perforation cases, and non‐operative treatment, such as antibiotics, parental nutrition, and no food intake by mouth, should be applied carefully.