ABSTRACT
Non-iatrogenic traumatic cervical esophageal perforations are usually hard to manage in the clinical setting, and often require a careful and individualized approach. The low incidence of this particular problem leads to a restricted clinical experience among most centers and justify the lack of a standardized surgical approach. Conservative treatment of esophageal perforation remains a controversial topic, although early and sporadic reports have registered the efficacy of non-operative care, especially following perforation in patients that do not sustain any other kind of injuries, and who are hemodynamically stable and non-septic. We report a case of a patient sustaining a single cervical gunshot wound compromising the cervical esophagus and who was treated exclusively with cervical drainage, enteral support and antibiotics.
Ferimentos traumáticos do esôfago não iatrogênicos são de difícil manejo clínico e requerem condutas individualizadas e cuidadosas. Frente à baixa incidência dessa afecção, a maioria dos centros não possui experiência suficiente para a definição de uma conduta padronizada para o manejo de tais lesões. O tratamento conservador da perfuração do esôfago permanece um tema controverso, embora relatos mais recentes tenham documentado sua eficácia, especialmente após a perfuração, em pacientes que não apresentam outras lesões associadas, instabilidade hemodinâmica ou sinais de sepse. É apresentado aqui o caso de um paciente com ferimento por projétil no esôfago cervical tratado exclusivamente com manejo conservador, tendo sido realizados drenagem da lesão, suporte nutricional por meio de sonda nasoenteral e antibioticoterapia, com evolução satisfatória.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Esophageal Perforation/surgery , Esophagus/injuries , Wounds, Gunshot/surgery , Neck Injuries/surgeryABSTRACT
Non-iatrogenic traumatic cervical esophageal perforations are usually hard to manage in the clinical setting, and often require a careful and individualized approach. The low incidence of this particular problem leads to a restricted clinical experience among most centers and justify the lack of a standardized surgical approach. Conservative treatment of esophageal perforation remains a controversial topic, although early and sporadic reports have registered the efficacy of non-operative care, especially following perforation in patients that do not sustain any other kind of injuries, and who are hemodynamically stable and non-septic. We report a case of a patient sustaining a single cervical gunshot wound compromising the cervical esophagus and who was treated exclusively with cervical drainage, enteral support and antibiotics.