title: Nonsurgical management of esophageal perforation from pneumatic dilatation in achalasia.
abstract: Perforation of the esophagus is a well-described complication of pneumatic dilatation in patients with achalasia. Although successful management of these patients without surgical intervention has been reported, little follow-up data exist. We report the successful nonsurgical management of esophageal perforation after pneumatic dilatation in three patients. Manometric and radionuclide esophageal emptying studies in these patients showed satisfactory results after the dilatations despite the occurrence of perforation, and the excellent symptomatic response has been maintained during a follow-up period ranging from one to four years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swedlund
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traube
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Siskind
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: McCallum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004106:Dilatation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000628:therapy*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging