This patient was an 53-year-old man who had undergone Sengstaken-Blackmore tube insertion for esophageal varix bleeding. Two days after Sengstaken-Blackmore tube insertion, he developed severe left hemothorax and was transferred to our hospital. The esophagoscopic findings revealed a large perforation lengthening 8-cm in the intrathoracic esophagus. A left thoracotomy was performed 33 days after the injury due to repeated varix bleedings and poor conditions. An 8-cm longitudinal perforation of the intrathoracic esophagus with gross suppurative empyema was found. Primary repair and esophageal exclusion was performed 2cm proximal and distal to the perforation, using rows of nonabsorbable staplers (TA stapler 60x4.8) and large bore thoracostomy tubes were placed for local drainage. Six days after intrathoracic esophageal exclusion, an esophagogram revealed a leakage at just above the proximal stapling site. A cervical esophageal exclusion was performed using the same method. One hundred thirty seven days after exclusion operation for the intra-thoracic esophageal perforation, the patient was able to eat per orally without any secondary esophageal reconstructive surgery.
Drainage ; Empyema ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Esophageal Perforation* ; Esophagus ; Hemorrhage ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Middle Aged ; Thoracostomy ; Thoracotomy ; Varicose Veins

Descending nectorizing mediastinitis (DNM) represents a virulent form of mediastinal infection requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to reduce the high morbidity mortality associated with this disease. Intr.avenous broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy alone is not efficient without adequate surgical drainage of the cervical and mediastinal collections, extensive debridement and excision of necrotic tissue, and wide mediastino-pleural irrigation. A 38-year-old man admitted via emergency room with painful left neck swelling and uncontrolled high fever. Chest computed tomogram showed left paratracheal abscess descending into the superior and anterior mediastinum. Transcervical mediastinal drainage was performed with 26 Fr. chest tube and left paratracheal drainage was performed with Penrose drain in urgency. Culture and sensitivity test grew Yeast. The drains removed via gradually shortening on day 39 after surgery.
Abscess ; Adult ; Chest Tubes ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fever ; Humans ; Mediastinitis* ; Mediastinum ; Mortality ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Thorax ; Yeasts*