Endoscopic clips for closing esophageal perforations: case report and pooled analysis.
BACKGROUND
Acute and chronic esophageal perforations have traditionally been treated with surgery or a conservative approach. Recently, endoscopic repair has been reported in some case reports.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of a chronic esophagoperitoneal fistula successfully closed by endoscopic clips after several failed reoperations and stent placement. To perform a pooled analysis of the reports describing such closures.


METHODS
Case report and pooled analysis.


METHODS
Tertiary-care hospitals.


METHODS
Our patient presented with mature perforation in the distal esophagus caused by laparoscopic band gastroplasty. Patients for pooled analysis identified by a MEDLINE search (1966 to January 2007) performed for all the English language articles that reported esophageal perforation/fistulae and endoscopic clips.


METHODS
Endoscopic clip application after ablation of epithelialized edges in our patient. Pooled analyses for demographic and perforation variables, along with predictors for closure time after clipping, were performed.


METHODS
Closure of esophageal perforations.


RESULTS
The fistula in our patient closed in 3 weeks after endoscopic clipping. The literature review identified a total of 11 articles that describe 17 patients (acute 7, intermediate 4, and chronic 6). The most common cause was iatrogenic (65%), and the size of the perforation ranged from 3 to 25 mm. The median healing time after clipping was 18 days (interquartile range 6-26). Both univariable and multivariable analyses identified only the duration of perforation as a significant predictor of closure time, P values .003 and .02, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Small sample size, nonrandomized sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoclips may be effective for closing both acute and chronic esophageal perforations. The duration of the perforation is a significant factor for predicting closure time.
Qadeer
Mohammed A
MA
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Dumot
John A
JA
Vargo
John J
JJ
Lopez
A Rocio
AR
Rice
Thomas W
TW
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D017211:Treatment Failure