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Esophageal Perforation during Gastric Bypass: Delayed Diagnosis and Management

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Mediastinitis secondary to esophageal perforation is usually a life-threatening problem associated with high morbidity and mortality.We present a 44-year-old morbidly obese female who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass, during which she suffered perforation of the distal thoracic esophagus diagnosed 5 days later during progression of mediastinitis. She was treated with left posterolateral thoracotomy, drainage of a peri-esophageal abscess and primary repair of the esophagus with intercostal muscle reinforcement, and cervical esophagostomy. Thereafter, she had an uneventful hospital course, and remains well on 12-month follow-up.

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Correspondence to Santiago A. Endara MD.

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Endara, S.A., Serrano, A.J., Sandoval, B.A. et al. Esophageal Perforation during Gastric Bypass: Delayed Diagnosis and Management. OBES SURG 17, 986–988 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-007-9156-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-007-9156-5

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