• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.28-34
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• 2004

Background : Esophageal perforation due to a traumatic endoscopy or intubation is exceedingly rare. If riot noticed immediately or treated promptly, however, the morbidity and mortality is significant. We performed a retrospective review of patients with iatrogenic hypopharyngo-esophageal perforation to assess the outcome of current management techniques. Material and Methods : We retrospectively analyzed all cases iatrogenic hypopharyngo-esophageal perforation diagnosed at our hospital from January, 1999, through April, 2004. The study group consisted of 11 patients (4 men) with a mean age of 47.6 years (range, 21-83 yr). We reviewed the 11 patients with perforated injuries of the hypopharynx or esophagus during the diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Result: Perforations were due to diagnostic gastroscopy ($54.5\%$, 6/11), esophageal dilation ($27.3\%$, 3/11), endoscopic port insertion ($9.1\%$, l/11), and tracheal intrathoracic ($9.1\%$, 1/11). Seven patients had intrathoracic and 4 had cervical perforations. Treatment included incision and drainage (5), resection and reconstruction (4), drainage only (1), and observation (2). Nonfatal complications included transient pneumonia (1), and wound infection (1). They occurred in advanced mediastinal abscess ]patients. Mortality was $9.1\%$ (1/11) in old patient who managed medically in cervical esophageal perforation. Conclusions : Current mortality rates in iatrogenic esophageal perforation were improved compared to previous published rates of $19\%\;to\;66\%$ for all patients with this condition. We concluded that aggressive and definitive surgery for thoracic esophageal perforations improving the survival rate, whether diagnosed early or late.