Complications of esophagoscopy in an academic training program

The 2.6 percent esophageal perforation rate observed in this study is higher than that typically reported for rigid esophagoscopy. When performed as part of routine panendoscopy, no synchronous esophageal tumors were found, questioning the value of esophagoscopy in this setting. All perforations occurred in patients with a history of head and neck cancer and were associated with the level of the surgeon's experience in performing rigid endoscopy.