title: Primary endoscopic management of esophageal perforation following transesophageal echocardiogram.
abstract: A 90-year-old woman sustained a proximal esophageal perforation following transesophageal echocardiography. The perforation originated at the site of a Zenker's diverticulum and resulted in a false passage to the diaphragm. Initial management involved endoscopic placement of drains into the mediastinum in addition to bilateral chest drains and a gastrostomy. Following stabilization, the patient had repair of her Zenker's diverticulum and recovered uneventfully. We recommend that all procedures involving blind intubation of the esophagus should be preceded with specific pursuit of a background of cervical dysphagia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98111, USA.
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sobrino
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kozarek
authors.forename: Donald Edward
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004322:Drainage; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000601:surgery