[Instrumental perforation of the intrathoracic oesophagus (author's transl)]

Due to a wide iatrogenic perforation of the oesophagus situated at the level of the carina a 90-year-old woman was admitted to hospital. Prompt recognition and immediate surgery were successful. The operation consisted of a right-sided thoracotomy, wide mediastinotomy, over-sewing of the perforation and pleural drainage. Oesophagostomy and gastrostomy were performed to relieve the oesophagus. A tube was inserted into the duodenum for artificial feeding. This method has been successful in previous cases.