GI Endoscopy · 1 min read
Esophageal Perforation: Mechanisms and Endoscopic Salvage
Clinical Bottom Line
| Perforation Mechanism | Risk Factor | Salvage Modality |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumatic Dilation | Achalasia treatment (large 30mm+ balloon). | High index of suspicion; Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC) or fully covered stent. |
| Foreign Body Impaction | Sharp bone or prolonged food bolus causing necrosis. | Careful removal followed by defect closure or surgical referral. |
| Mallory-Weiss / Boerhaave | Violent retching causing mucosal tearing or transmural rupture. | Boerhaave's (full-thickness) is an absolute surgical emergency. |
The Catastrophic Esophageal Breach
Esophageal perforation carries a massive mortality rate due to the rapid spread of virulent oropharyngeal bacteria and gastric acid directly into the sterile mediastinum. Iatrogenic perforations during diagnostic EGD are vanishingly rare, but the risk surges during therapeutic interventions, particularly rigorous blind bougie dilation or large-caliber pneumatic dilation for achalasia.
Endoscopic Stenting vs Primary Closure
The time-to-recognition dictates the intervention. If an endoscopist identifies a mucosal tear immediately following dilation, a fully covered self-expanding metal stent (FCSEMS) can be rapidly deployed across the defect to physically wall off the mediastinum and promote secondary healing. Small defects can be successfully closed with an Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC). However, if the perforation is not recognized until hours later, widespread mediastinitis takes hold, requiring emergent surgical thoracotomy and aggressive pleural drainage.
Clinical guidelines summarized by the Gastroscholar Research Team. Last updated: 2026. This article is intended for physicians.
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