[Mechanical injuries of the esophagus]

From 1958 to 1979 694 patients suffering from oesophageal lesions of different kind (penetrating 395, perforating 299) were seen at the Skilfosowskij-Institute Moscow. 70% of the perforations underwent surgery, from the penetrations only 2%. Since 1971 we practice an irrigation-suction drainage-system with its tip near to the tear of the oesophagus. We use a topic antiseptic solution, antibiotics are only systemically administered. The results of this treatment lowered the mortality rate drastically.