title: Misdiagnosed esophageal perforation treated with endoscopic stent placement: a case report.
abstract: Esophageal perforation has a high rate of mortality. Many strategies have been advocated for its management. Therapeutic options are surgical repair or resection, endoscopic placement of self-expandable metallic stents or, in selected cases, conservative management.We describe a case of a 75-year-old man admitted to our hospital for forceful vomiting since 24 hours. The patient was treated with endoscopic placement of a covered self expandable metallic stent. Although the late diagnosis delayed the treatment, the patient survived the usually fatal condition. The stent removal was performed 8 weeks after implantation.Immediate and correct diagnosis are the key elements in improving survival of patients with esophageal perforation. This has to be associated to the selection of the most appropriate treatment. Implantation of covered self-expandable metallic stents in compromised patients with esophageal perforation is a safe and feasible alternative to operative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome 2nd School of Medicine, St. Andrea Hospital, Rome Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Nigri
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giaccaglia
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pezzoli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aurello
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mercantini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramacciato