Current Thoracic Surgery

Esophageal perforation from sharp trauma, including ingested foreign bodies, carries significant morbidity and mortality. This retrospective case series describes our experience with early surgical management across seven heterogeneous cases. We reviewed the records of seven patients with esophageal perforation admitted to our center between July 2015 and January 2022. Etiologies included impacted disc batteries (n = 3), a penetrating syringe needle, an ingested nail, a firearm injury, and false intubation. Data on presentation, surgical intervention, and outcomes were collected. The series included five children (10 months to 4 years) and two adults (aged 23 and 43 years). Surgical approaches varied by injury location and included cervicotomy, thoracotomy, and laparotomy for feeding tube placement. Six patients survived with eventual resumption of oral intake, though recovery was prolonged in delayed presentations. One mortality occurred from an unrecognized aorto-esophageal fistula following disc battery extraction. In this small, heterogeneous case series, early surgical intervention facilitated foreign body removal, mediastinal drainage, primary repair, and enteral access, contributing to favorable outcomes in most patients. Delayed diagnosis, particularly of aorto-esophageal fistula, remains a critical