Presentation
Meaty meal eaten at speed. Chest pain.
Patient Data
Age: 50 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Esophageal perforation and its treatment
Frontal
Normal prevertebral soft tissue.
No gas in the soft tissues of the neck.
Endoscopy performed.
From the case:
Esophageal perforation and its treatment
Loading images...
Axial non-contrast
High-density material in the mid esophagus in keeping surgical staples.
Extensive pneumomediastinum and surgical emphysema in the neck.
Lungs clear.
From the case:
Esophageal perforation and its treatment
Loading images...
Oblique
Staples in the mid esophagus.
No contrast extravasation to suggest a leak.
Fluoroscopically guided nasogastric tube insertion
From the case:
Esophageal perforation and its treatment
Loading images...
AP
Staples in the mid esophagus.
An NG tube was positioned under fluoroscopic guidance.
Case Discussion
A rather hurried meaty meal resulted in this esophageal perforation.
It was treated conservatively with endoscopically applied staples and nasogastric tube insertion to allow the tear to heal.