Instrumental perforation of the oesophagus. A ten year study from two ENT clinics.

During the 10-year period 1972-1981, 3,688 and 867 oesophagoscopies were performed at two ENT clinics of a university hospital and of a county hospital with an incidence of oesophageal perforation of 0.8 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively. Rigid instruments were used in all cases, most often in combination with dilatation of a benign stricture.