Nonthoracotomy esophagectomy for corrosive esophagitis with gastric perforation.

Surgical treatment of corrosive esophagitis with gastric perforation is a high risk operation. Nonthoracotomy esophagectomy plus total gastrectomy was performed upon seven patients and compared with cervical esophagostomy plus total gastrectomy performed upon five patients. Two patients in the first group and all of the patients in the second group died. Transpleural esophagectomy for these critically ill patients is usually dangerous with high morbidity rates, while nonthoracotomy esophagectomy is a procedure which has lower risks and more advantages for removing the damaged esophagus of the patient with corrosive esophagitis.