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Recognition and Management of Nonaccidental Esophageal Perforation
Ryan Bishop1, Rishabh Sethia2, Charles Elmaraghy2,3
1College of Medicine.
Insights
Nonaccidental trauma, often missed, can cause severe pediatric injuries. This case highlights diagnosing inflicted esophageal perforation, a rare but critical presentation in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Child Abuse Recognition
Background:
- Nonaccidental trauma is a frequent pediatric issue, frequently overlooked by medical professionals.
- Common signs include bruising, burns, fractures, and head injuries.
- Atypical presentations, such as pharyngeal and esophageal trauma, require heightened clinical suspicion.
Observation:
- A 5-week-old infant presented with symptoms suggestive of trauma.
- The infant was diagnosed with an esophageal perforation.
- The perforation was determined to be inflicted in origin.
Findings:
- Esophageal perforation is a rare but severe consequence of nonaccidental trauma in infants.
- Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial for patient survival and recovery.
- This case underscores the importance of considering inflicted esophageal injury in the differential diagnosis of infant trauma.
Implications:
- Physicians must be vigilant in recognizing subtle signs of nonaccidental trauma.
- Expanding diagnostic criteria to include esophageal trauma can improve early detection.
- Timely intervention in cases of inflicted esophageal perforation can prevent fatal outcomes.
Abstract:
Nonaccidental trauma is a common pediatric concern that often goes unrecognized. Although most patients present with bruising, burns, fractures, and head trauma, it is critical that physicians be able to diagnose and treat atypical presentations such as pharyngeal and esophageal trauma. In this report, we describe the presentation and management of a 5-week-old girl with an inflicted esophageal perforation.
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