Management of late cervical esophageal perforation.

BACKGROUND We aimed to identify different methods of treating late perforation of the cervical esophagus. METHODS Ten late cervical esophageal perforations were caused by foreign bodies. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their diagnosis and treatment as follows: Group I: Cases with cervical abscess were drained by lateral cervical incision and primarily repaired, Group II: Cases with cervical abscess were drained by lateral cervical incision, and any foreign body granulomas found were removed, and Group III: Foreign bodies were removed. All cases were given broad-spectrum antibiotics and were prohibited from any oral food, except Case 5. RESULTS All patients recovered without mortality and retained normal swallow function. The time for treatment in each group was different. CONCLUSION The conservative management of removal of foreign body, prohibition of oral food and administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is supported. Perforations with the presence of abscess can be surgically treated by debridement closure combined with strip muscle flap repair and irrigation drainage. Granuloma can be removed by lateral cervical incision and vacuum sealing drainage.