Management of hypopharyngeal and esophageal perforations in children: Three case reports and a review of the literature

by Eric D. Baum, MD, Lisa M. Elden, MD, Steven D. Handler, MD, and Lawrence W. C. Tom, MD | Tuesday, January 01, 2008

IntroductionThe severity of the sequelae of hypopharyngeal and esophageal perforations varies greatly, and consistent guidelines on management are lacking. The choice of treatment varies depending on the cause and specific location of the perforation and the time to recognition. We report the successful conservative management of 3 children who experienced an iatrogenic perforation, and we discuss the current literature. We also provide an algorithm that highlights the most important considerations in the decision-making process. When treating such a case, the surgeon should pay particular attention to each patient's specific clinical conditions because they can help determine whether conservative management may be safely pursued.Case reportsPatient 1. An infant boy with a history of hypoplastic left heart syndrome was injured during placement of a nasoenteral feeding tube. Following insertion, a small amount of blood was aspirated from the lumen. An immediate chest x-ray revealed .../continued/

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