Esophageal Trauma

Injury from blunt or penetrating trauma to the esophagus is relatively rare. Treatment strategy is contingent on the clinical status of the patient, associated injuries, the degree of esophageal injury, and the time of injury until diagnosis. Although nonoperative intervention may be acceptable in highly selected patients with contained injuries or those who are more than 24 hours removed from the injury and are clinically stable, operative intervention is the most conservative and safest approach. This article provides information on the methods of injury, the diagnosis, and different treatment strategies for traumatic esophageal injuries, and iatrogenic and corrosive esophageal injures. The principles applied in the management of these types of injuries can be applied to all types of esophageal insults.