[Successful endoscopic treatment of spontaneous esophageal perforation in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of spontaneous esophageal perforation. It is considered a surgical emergency with high rate of mortality. Its diagnosis can be difficult since the presentation is often nonspecific and can be confused with others disorders. Many strategies have been advocated for its management. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are required to decrease the poor prognosis of this condition. A conservative therapy may be effective in selected cases.


RESULTS
We described a successful non-surgical closure of a spontaneous esophageal perforation using an endoscopic stent, in an severely ill old patient. Although the treatment was delayed because of a late diagnosis, the patient survived the usually fatal condition.


CONCLUSIONS
The key to improve the prognosis of this life-threatening emergency is the immediate and correct diagnosis and the most appropriate selection of the primary employed procedure.
Nigri
Giuseppe
G
Divisione di Chirurgia Generale, Università di Roma La Sapienza, II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Policlinico Sant'Andrea , Roma. giuseppe.nigri@uniroma1.it
Pezzoli
Francesca
F
Giaccaglia
Valentina
V
Di Giulio
Emilio
E
D'Angelo
Francesco
F
Aurello
Paolo
P
Ramacciato
Giovanni
G
D000368:Aged; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome