MANAGEMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL PERFORATION: A CASE REPORT

Esophageal perforation (EP) is a devastating condition. In modern times it is still associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. 62-year-old male patient came to Surgical Department of the First University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University on 17.10.2018 15:00. The patient complained of pain in the chest cavity, especially after eating, shortness of breath, fever, chills, weakness. The patient felt pain in the chest cavity after eating 4 days before hospitalization. CT scan revealed pneumomediastinum, extravasation of contrast medium at the level of the 8th thoracic vertebra. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a defect in the esophagus at the level of 32 cm from the incisors. Dimensions of defect were 2.0 - 3.0 cm. An urgent operation was performed. Left-sided posterolateral thoracotomy, mediastinotomy, suturing of the defect, buttressing of the sutures with the mediastinal pleura, washing and drainage of the mediastinum and left pleural cavity were performed. A Witzel gastrostomy was performed. After the operation, the patient's treatment continued in the intensive care unit. Since leakage was noted, it was decided to place an esophageal stent in the area of the defect. Stenting was performed on 05.11.2018. A complication in the form of bleeding was noted on 01.12.2018. Bleeding was controlled conservatively. Finally, stent was removed and the patient was discharged from the clinic in good condition on 07.12.2018. New interventional endoscopic techniques, including endoscopic clips, covered metal stents, and endoluminal vacuum therapy, have been developed over the last several years to manage esophageal perforation. Surgery should be undertaken in all patients who do not meet non-operative management criteria. Buttressing the esophageal repair with surrounding viable tissue has been recommended to decrease the risk of leakage. If direct repair of thoracic EP is not feasible esophageal exclusion, diversion, or resection should be performed. Repair over a large size T-tube can be used to create a controlled esophago-cutaneous fistula and minimize mediastinal and pleural contamination. Thus, esophageal perforation continues to present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge despite decades of clinical experience and innovation in surgical technique.