title: Videothoracoscopic drainage for esophageal perforation with mediastinitis in children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, the Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. sienafiat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zongzheng
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ya
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiansheng
authors.forename: Duan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yitao
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhengtuan
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Baijun
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xinkui
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xuanlin
mesh_terms: 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