Esophageal perforation following use of the esophageal obturator airway

Four cases of esophageal rupture associated with the use of the esophageal obturator airway are presented and added to the fifteen cases already in the literature. The incidence of this complication may be greater than previously suspected since a systematic search for this complication has not been made in cardiac arrest patients. The mechanism of rupture of the occluded esophagus may be similar to that seen in postemetic rupture. Endotracheal intubation remains the procedure of choice in airway control of cardiac arrest patients, although the modified esophageal obturator airway with gastric tube may prevent the occurrence of esophageal rupture by allowing decompression of the esophagus.