Shama D M, Odell J
Br J Surg. 1984 Jul;71(7):534-6. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800710721.
Failure to recognize early that penetrating neck wounds include the cervical oesophagus greatly increases morbidity and mortality. From an analysis of experience over 5 years (1978-1983) it emerges that, while tracheal wounds are usually recognized early, cervical oesophageal injuries are not. It is empyema which complicates such oesophageal injury and which prompts referral to a Department of Thoracic Surgery, the patients by this time being mortally ill, with septicaemia and malnutrition. Neck penetration is usually left-sided, the injuring agent usually a knife, driven downwards and medially by a right-handed assailant. Empyema is usually right-sided. Early recognition and prompt referral are associated with a low morbidity and low mortality. Late recognition and late referral carry a high morbidity rate, prolonged convalescence in those who survive, and a mortality rate of nearly 25 per cent.
未能早期认识到穿透性颈部创伤累及颈段食管会极大地增加发病率和死亡率。通过对5年（1978 - 1983年）的经验分析发现，虽然气管创伤通常能被早期识别，但颈段食管损伤却并非如此。是脓胸使此类食管损伤复杂化，并促使患者转诊至胸外科，此时患者已病入膏肓，伴有败血症和营养不良。颈部穿透伤通常发生在左侧，致伤物通常是一把刀，由右手攻击者向下并向内刺入。脓胸通常发生在右侧。早期识别并及时转诊与低发病率和低死亡率相关。晚期识别和晚期转诊则发病率高，幸存者康复期延长，死亡率近25%。
