Penetrating and blunt injuries of the esophagus

Though uncommon, the incidence of esophageal injury from external trauma is increasing in frequency and requires a thorough knowledge of the principles of esophageal surgery in general and familiarity with the options for repair of both the different anatomic locations of injury and the various types of injuring agents. Such knowledge and experience will avoid the potential for complications such as those described centuries ago by Richard Wiseman in the young man who impaled himself on his toy sword.