Videothoracoscopic drainage for esophageal perforation with mediastinitis in children.
BACKGROUND
Esophageal perforation remains a devastating event that is difficult to diagnose and manage. The overall mortality associated with esophageal perforation can approach 20%, and delay in treatment of more than 24 hours after perforation can result in a doubling of mortality. The treatment option for esophageal perforation with mediastinitis is not very clear and still controversial.


METHODS
Between April 2000 and March 2004, 6 males and 2 females, with ages ranging from 2 to 6 years (mean, 3.8 years), underwent videothoracoscopic drainage for esophageal perforation with mediastinitis.


RESULTS
The mean hospital length of stay for patients in our series was 34.1 days (range, 14-47 days). There was no perioperative mortality. All patients were discharged from hospital without major sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
Minimally invasive videothoracoscopic drainage is a feasible and effective method for esophageal perforation with mediastinitis in children.
Peng
Li
L
Department of Pediatric Surgery, the Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. sienafiat@hotmail.com
Quan
Xu
X
Zongzheng
Ji
J
Ya
Gao
G
Xiansheng
Zhang
Z
Yitao
Duan
D
Zhengtuan
Guo
G
Baijun
Zheng
Z
Xinkui
Guo
G
Xuanlin
Wu
W
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome