Case Report
Year: 2020 | Month: August | Volume: 10 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 128-131
Traumatic Esophageal Perforation - A Diagnostic Dilemma
Sin Wee Lim1,2, Muhammad Azman Abdullah1
1Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
2University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Corresponding Author: Sin Wee Lim
ABSTRACT
Purpose: We report a case of a complicated traumatic oesophageal due to difficult intubation. Our aim is to highlight the importance of early detection and management of the injury
Methods: Literature reviews on management guidelines, published case reports and review articles.
Results: Traumatic oesophageal perforation has a significant mortality rate of 20% but a delayed diagnosis may double the rate. Patient’s presentations can be vague such as sore throat or neck pain which are often treated by physicians as post extubation laryngeal oedema. Patients can be managed without surgical intervention if detected early but with limited criteria. The aim of early surgical intervention is to repair the perforation and eliminates the source of infection. This has been shown to improve a patient’s outcome.
Conclusion: The awareness that oesophageal perforation can be a potential complication of difficult intubation and the early recognition of signs and symptoms plays a vital role in managing the patient. Early diagnosis will ensure a favourable outcome for patients.
Key words: traumatic oesophageal perforation, difficult intubation