Purpose: Esophageal perforation constitutes a potentially life-threatening condition, and this study aimed to evaluate the indications and outcome for the different treatment modalities.
Patients and methods: In total, 43 patients with esophageal perforation were considered for this retrospective analysis. Age, sex, length of hospital stay and intensive care treatment, in-hospital mortality, localization of perforation and etiology, treatment modality, and 90-day morbidity were analyzed.
Results: Most patients suffered from Boerhaave syndrome and from iatrogenic esophageal perforation. In total, 63% of patients (26/41) received successful nonoperative treatment, whereas 36% required additional surgery. Two patients (5%) underwent primary surgery. In all cases no esophagectomy was necessary. In-hospital mortality was 7%. During the 90-day follow-up 1 patient with stenosis required repetitive dilatations.
Conclusions: Initial endoscopic treatment, either by stent or by endosponge, alone or combined with an additional operative treatment, seems feasible in patients suffering from esophageal perforation. In all patients, there was no need for esophagectomy.