Delayed Primary Repair of Perforated Epiphrenic Diverticulum

A 68-yr-old man complaining of sudden, postprandial chest pain visited the emergency room. His symptom had been aggravated during the preceding two days. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study with gastrographin showed leakage of dye from the epiphrenic diverticulum in the lower third of the esophagus. The primary repair was urgently carried out. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study 14 days after operation revealed an esophageal leakage which was small and confined. The patient was managed with conservative treatments such as intravenous hyperalimentation and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Forty-two days after the operation, a gastrographin swallow study showed the absence of leaks. This is the first reported case of a perforated epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum repaired by delayed primary repair in Korea.