Chest tube insertion in the delayed esophageal perforation phenomenon: A tragic or beneficial outcome?

Abstract

A 53-year-old woman with foreign body esophageal perforation, was first misdiagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism. In referral hospital her chest computed tomography was reported as giant hiatal hernia or giant pulmonary abscess. She was treated for abscess, after several days, right hemithorax tube thoracostomy was performed. After that, she developed necrotizing fasciitis on the chest wall. After a 19-day delay, we found a 5-cm mid- Thoracic esophageal tearing during thoracotomy and repaired it. After 2 years follow up the patient condition is good. This report describes a unique case of mid- Thoracic foreign body esophageal perforation and rupture with a delay in diagnosis with a tragic course.