[Instrumental perforations of the proximal esophagus. Proposal of conservative therapy]

A series of 8 cases of oesophageal perforations observed between 1949 and 1975 is reported. 5 of these cases were located in the oesophagus and did not communicate with the pleural cavity. All the patients were successfully treated with drainage of the lesion through a naso-pharingeal tube. It is then suggested that this method bloodless drainage may be successfully carried out in cases of accidental lesion of the oesophagus without perforation of parietal pleura, caused by peroral endoscopic manoeuvres or dilatation of oesophageal anatomical and functional strictures.