Surgical management of esophageal perforation: role of primary closure

Esophageal perforation is a life-threatening condition associated with high mortality and morbidity. Ambiguous clinical presentation is one of the most common causes of delayed and difficult diagnosis of esophageal perforation. In this retrospective single-center study, we reviewed the outcome of primary closure in patients with esophageal perforation between 2009 and 2017.

The data of 65 patients attending our department of thoracic surgery (from 2009 to 2017) for esophageal perforation were reviewed. Primary repair was attempted in 63 patients irrespective of the site of perforation and time interval between injury and hospital admission. In intrathoracic lesions, continuous mediastinal and pleural irrigation was undertaken, whereas in cervical perforations, gauze packing and local irrigation were performed. Jejunotomy was carried out in patients with inadequate healing.

Of the 65 patients, 63 underwent primary closure and 2 were left to heal spontaneously. The majority of patients ( n = 44) had an esophageal perforation at the thoracic level, and only one was admitted early (<24 h after injury). Among the 63 patients managed with primary closure, 55 had satisfactory healing with one surgery. Healing was delayed in the other 10 patients. No mortality was reported.

Esophageal perforation can be well managed by primary closure, irrespective of the time interval between injury and hospital admission and the site of perforation. Conservative management might lead to an increased rate of complications such as empyema or necrotizing mediastinitis, and increased morbidity and mortality.