Foreign bodies in the mediastinum perforating the oesophagus.

A patient attempting suicide put four unsterile objects into a stab wound in his neck. These objects remained in the tissues unnoticed for about three months before they were removed from the upper mediastinum by operation. Owing to penicillin treatment, no diffuse mediastinitis developed but the oesophagus was perforated by the objects. In spite of severe damage to the gullet by the perforation and by operative incision, the oesophagus could be repaired without development of stenosis. The method of preventing stenosis is presented.