Repair of esophageal perforation with a diaphragmatic flap

Perforation of the esophagus is life-threatening and requires prompt diagnosis. Immediate surgery with primary suture of the perforation is the treatment of choice. Any delay in diagnosis or treatment results in a sharp increase in mortality due to the combination of rapid development of necrotizing mediastinitis and inability to close the perforation surgically. To avoid leaks from the anastomosis the suture line can be buttressed with adjacent structures. The fundus of the stomach, parietal pleura and muscular flaps have been used to cover the perforation. We describe 2 patients with perforation of the lower esophagus. Both were operated on within 8 hours, the perforation was closed primarily and a diaphragmatic flap was formed to cover the suture line. There were no postoperative leaks and recovery was uneventful.