Esophagopleural fistula: a complication of chest intubation for empyema

This report documents the first recorded patient in the recent literature with an esophageal perforation and an esophagopleural fistula following chest intubation for empyema. It was treated successfully by conservative method with feeding gastrostomy. It is important to realize that tube thoracostomy drainage is not an innocuous procedure and to be alert to this complication, especially in the presence of empyema.