title: Perforation of the lower thoracic oesophagus following crush injury to the chest and abdomen.
abstract: We report a case of perforation of the lower thoracic oesophagus following a crush injury to the chest and upper abdomen. A laparotomy was performed for abdominal injuries, and appropriately placed drains resulted in complete resolution of the oesophageal leak, 21 days following the injury. This case report demonstrates that a conservative approach to lower thoracic oesophageal perforations can be carried out successfully without the added morbidity of a thoracotomy, or risks of a direct repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA, Northern Ireland, UK. ian.paul@talk21.com
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Badmanaban
authors.forename: A N J
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*