Emergent Minimally Invasive Esophagogastrectomy.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Esophageal perforation, especially with concurrent malignancy, presents significant morbidity and mortality risks.
• Traditional open surgical techniques are considered the gold standard for managing esophageal perforations.

Observation:

• An 83-year-old female experienced an iatrogenic esophageal perforation during diagnostic workup for dysphagia.
• The patient had an underlying esophageal malignancy requiring definitive treatment.

Findings:

• A minimally invasive esophagectomy was performed to address both the perforation and the malignancy.
• The patient experienced an uncomplicated recovery and survived for four years post-surgery.

Implications:

• Minimally invasive esophagectomy is a feasible and effective treatment option for select patients with esophageal perforation and malignancy.
• This approach may be considered by experienced surgical teams as an alternative to open surgery in complex cases.