Medical Physics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Medical Physics, including details on medicine, radiotherapy, biomechanics, medical imaging.

Conservative Therapy of Esophageal Perforation With Neck Abscess in a Child.

Miller MC, Schmidt RJ, Keller MS, Murphy SG, Reilly JS

From the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (m.c.m.), Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.; the Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology (r.j.s., j.s.r.), the Department of Medical Imaging (m.s.k.), and the Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery (s.j.m.), Nemours–A. I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

Conservative management of complicated esophageal perforations has gained favor in recent years. However, there are limited data concerning the applicability of this approach in the pediatric population. We describe the care and outcome of a 14-year-old girl who sustained an esophageal perforation after accidental ingestion of a shard of glass. The patient was treated using ultrasound-guided drainage catheter placement with simultaneous esophagoscopy and postoperative antibiotics. She was discharged within 1 week of presentation and enjoyed an uncomplicated recovery. We believe that selected cases of pediatric esophageal perforation may be safely and effectively treated using a conservative approach.

Published 10 September 2007 in Laryngoscope.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Medical Physics Research Today. All Rights Reserved.