Published online Jul 27, 2015. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v7.i7.123
Peer-review started: February 27, 2015
First decision: April 27, 2015
Revised: May 26, 2015
Accepted: June 9, 2015
Article in press: June 11, 2015
Published online: July 27, 2015
Processing time: 150 Days and 12.2 Hours
We report two cases of delayed esophageal perforation occurring with endoscopic submucosal dissection. Our cases involved delayed perforation after 10 d in case 1 and after 6 d in case 2. Both cases were related to solid food. We performed subtotal esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction of the esophagus via the subcutaneous route anterior to the thoracic wall without conservative treatment because both cases involved chest pain and major leakage of food into the mediastinum. Postoperative complications were a local factor (including suture failure and esophageal stricture) in case 1, and we performed endoscopic balloon dilatation five times for esophageal stricture. There was no intrathoracic and mediastinal infection in either case. Surgical treatment for delayed esophageal perforation can be performed safely and surely if diagnosis and assessment are not delayed.
Core tip: Patients with early esophageal cancer often experience endoscopic submucosal dissection with complications, including bleeding, perforation, and stenosis. Although most cases are successfully treated conservatively, perforation is a life-threatening complication and can require surgical intervention. In our cases, we performed surgery approximately three hours after the patients’ complaints. Postoperative complications were a local factor (including wound infection and esophageal stricture) and did not include intrathoracic and mediastinal infection. Surgical treatment for delayed esophageal perforation can be performed safely and surely if diagnosis and assessment are not delayed.