title: Trans-abdominal-mediastinal approach with median phrenotomy for esophageal disruption.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prognosis for esophageal disruption is still poor. The aim of this study is to clarify the usefulness and safety of the transabdominal-mediastinal approach for spontaneous esophageal disruption.
  
  
  METHODS
  The surgical procedure is as follows: upper median laparotomy with resection of the xyphoid process, folding up of the lateral segment of the left liver, median phrenotomy from the root of the xyphoid process to the esophageal hiatus, trans-mediastinal left thoracotomy by blunt dissection, blind lavage of the thoracic cavity, and simple interrupted suture and fundic patch of this suture line, if necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We managed 3 cases using this technique. Two cases had severe prior chronic diseases (poorly controlled diabetes and liver cirrhosis, and hemodialysis). In all cases, the lesions were completely exposed in the abdomen by and the ruptured sites were safely and completely sutured under a good field of view. The left thoracic cavity was adequately washed. All cases were saved without lethal complication. One case showed minor leakage, which was easily managed by continuous high pressure aspiration using double luminal drainage system (CHPA-DLD).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that our technique is useful for esophageal disruption long after the onset, with severe prior chronic diseases, or with pleuritis.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care and Emergency Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama, 232-0024, Japan. qqc3@urahp.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
authors.forename: Mitsugi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kosuge
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum