Perforations traumatiques de l'œsophage

Traumatic esophageal perforation is a rare but severe condition, most of the time iatrogenic. The leading cause is upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The diagnosis is suspected when matching symptoms occur after a high risk procedure. Computed tomography scan of the neck, chest and abdomen with ingestion of contrast media is the key examination in this setting. Management strategy can be conservative, radiologic, endoscopic or surgical, depending on the characteristics of the patient and of the perforation and on the delay to diagnosis.