Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Esophageal gunshot injuries

P N Symbas, C R Hatcher, S E Vlasis

    Annals of Surgery
    |June 1, 1980
    PubMed
    Summary

    Diagnosing esophageal gunshot wounds requires a high suspicion, as initial tests are often inconclusive. Prompt surgical repair with mediastinal drainage offers the best survival outcomes for these critical injuries.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Penetrating cardiac trauma at an urban trauma center: a 22-year perspective.

    The American surgeon·1999
    Same author

    Blunt cardiac rupture: the utility of emergency department ultrasound.

    The Annals of thoracic surgery·1999
    Same author

    Rupture of the ascending aorta caused by blunt trauma.

    The Annals of thoracic surgery·1998
    Same author

    Delayed traumatic aorto-pulmonary artery fistula.

    The Journal of trauma·1998
    Same author

    Hands-on approach to patient grievances: an interview with Charles R. Hatcher, Jr., MD, FACS. Interview by Karen Sandrick.

    Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons·1997
    Same author

    Failure of unipolar pacemaker secondary to subcutaneous emphysema.

    Journal of cardiac surgery·1997

    Area of Science:

    • Trauma Surgery
    • Gastrointestinal Surgery
    • Emergency Medicine

    Background:

    • Gunshot wounds to the esophagus are challenging to diagnose due to often non-diagnostic initial assessments.
    • Esophageal injury may be masked by associated injuries to other organs, necessitating a high index of suspicion.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the diagnostic challenges and treatment outcomes for patients with gunshot wounds to the esophagus.
    • To identify optimal surgical strategies for esophageal repair following penetrating trauma.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective review of 48 patients treated for esophageal gunshot wounds between 1964 and 1979.
    • Diagnosis confirmed via esophagography, surgical exploration, or esophagoscopy.
    • Surgical management focused on primary repair with mediastinal drainage.

    Main Results:

    • A 79.2% survival rate was observed (38 out of 48 patients).
    • Primary repair with wide mediastinal drainage and suture line plication demonstrated excellent results with no leaks or mortality in a subgroup.
    • Cervical and abdominal esophageal wounds had higher survival rates compared to thoracic injuries.

    Conclusions:

    • Esophageal gunshot wounds often present with subtle or misleading initial findings.
    • Early diagnosis via esophagography and prompt surgical intervention, including wide mediastinal drainage and primary repair with plication, are crucial for favorable outcomes.
    • Specific surgical techniques, such as suture line plication, may reduce complications like leaks.

    Related Experiment Videos