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Esophageal Injuries

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Management of Chest Trauma

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Abstract

Esophageal injuries due to trauma are exceedingly rare, with penetrating mechanisms being the most common. Anatomic considerations including location of esophageal injury in the neck, thorax, or abdomen significantly impact management decisions such as surgical approach. Early primary repair of esophageal injury, regardless of location of injury, is recommended. This includes resuscitation of the patient and addressing other life-threatening injuries, debridement of devitalized esophageal tissue, and two-layer, tension-free closure with muscle flap buttress. Alternatives to early primary repair include esophageal diversion and drainage and the use of endoscopic stents in some centers. Esophageal anastomotic leak can be common especially in cases of delayed primary repair.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Mr. Michael Cameron, BFA, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL for his assistance with graphic arts in preparing sketches for use in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Kelsey A. Musgrove & Daniel J. Grabo

Authors
  1. Kelsey A. Musgrove
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  2. Daniel J. Grabo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel J. Grabo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Division of Trauma Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Adam M. Shiroff

  2. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Division of Trauma Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Mark J. Seamon

  3. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Division of Trauma Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lewis J. Kaplan

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Musgrove, K.A., Grabo, D.J. (2022). Esophageal Injuries. In: Shiroff, A.M., Seamon, M.J., Kaplan, L.J. (eds) Management of Chest Trauma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06959-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06959-8_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-06958-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-06959-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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