Esophageal perforation: its early diagnosis and treatment

Perforation of the esophagus is potentially the most lethal of any site in the gastrointestinal tract and is also the greatest therapeutic challenge. Although uncommon, esophageal perforation continues to occur even in the hands of very well-trained and experienced endoscopists. The literature reports the incidence of instrumental esophageal perforation to be between 0.25% and 1%. A review of 374 consecutive rigid esophagoscopies at the Naval Regional Medical Center, Oakland, CA, over a three-year period revealed three perforations for an overall incidence of 0.8%. This paper will review cases.