EN
TÜRKÇE
Poster - 6
Management and outcomes of esophageal perforation due to foreign body ingestion.
Z Nedra, M Marwa, BF Meriem, BH Samia, K Amine, B Mohssen, M Mongi, S Lassaad
Pediatric surgery department, Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital.
Purpose:
Esophageal perforation caused by a foreign body is a rare but serious condition in children. It often results from accidental ingestion and can lead to severe complications such as mediastinitis or sepsis. Early recognition and prompt management are essential to prevent life-threatening outcomes. This study explores the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal perforation in pediatric cases, caused by foreign body ingestion.
Method:
This is a retrospective study of patients who were treated for esophageal perforation caused by a foreign body in the department of pediatric surgery of Monastir over a period of 7 years.
Results:
This case series presents three pediatric patients (two males, one female) with a mean age of 19 months who were treated for esophageal perforation caused by foreign body ingestion, specifically batteries (two cases) and candy (one case). All patients developed severe infectious syndrome and dyspnea, with diagnostic imaging confirming mediastinitis characterized by pneumomediastinum and diffuse pneumonia. Treatment approaches varied, with two patients receiving conservative management using broad-spectrum antibiotics and nasopharyngeal aspiration, while one patient underwent thoracotomy and thoracic drainage of the mediastinal collection but tragically died from severe sepsis. The two others patients demonstrated favorable healing with esophageal wall breach sealing, and one patient required three esophageal dilation sessions due to subsequent stenosis. Notably, the two surviving patients exhibited good psychomotor development and appropriate weight gain during follow-up.
Conclusion:
Esophageal perforation due to foreign body is a critical condition that requires prompt diagnosis and intervention. Timely management, including imaging studies and appropriate conservative or surgical treatment, is essential to prevent complications.