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Esophageal perforation

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Definition:

An esophageal perforation is a hole in the esophagus, the tube through which food passes from the mouth to the stomach.

Alternative Names:

Perforation of the esophagus

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

A perforation is a hole through which the contents of the esophagus can pass into the mediastinum, the surrounding area in the chest. This often results in infection of the mediastinum ( mediastinitis ).

The most common cause of an esophageal perforation is injury during placement of a naso-gastric tube or a medical procedure such as esophagoscopy.

The esophagus may also become perforated as the result of a tumor, gastric reflux with ulceration, violent vomiting, or swallowing a foreign object or caustic chemicals.

Less common causes include injuries that hit the esophagus area (blunt trauma) and injury to the esophagus during an operation on another organ near the esophagus. Rare cases have also been associated with childbirth, defecation, seizures, heavy lifting, and forceful swallowing.

• Review Date: 7/14/2006
• Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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