The number of oesophagus perforations has increased considerably with the increase in endoscopic, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 46 instrumental oesophagus perforations have been observed between 1973 and 1984. The youngest patient was a 2-year-old girl with a benign oesophagus stenosis and the eldest was an 89-year-old man with a neoplasm of the cardia. The average age was 62 years. 26 patients were treated conservatively; 20 patients were treated surgically. In 2 cases the oesophagus was diverted at the cervical level and the cardia detached. 8 months later this was successfully reconstructed. 9 out of 43 patients died. In every case, the cause of death were cardio-pulmonal complications accompanying general sepsis.

No abstract