[Iatrogenic esophageal perforation in inoperable esophageal carcinoma. Its therapy with a plastic-coated metal stent].

A 60-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of severely impaired swallowing, retrosternal pain and marked weight loss. History and physical examination of the patient, whose general condition was obviously much reduced, pointed to carcinoma of the oesophagus. Contrast-medium swallow demonstrated subtotal stenosis in the oesophagus. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a space-occupying mass originating from the oesophagus, in close relationship to the trachea, main bronchi and descending aorta. Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of oesophagus carcinoma and exploratory thoracotomy excluded curative surgical treatment. An attempt was made to introduce a feeding tube endoscopically to provide nutritional palliation. But the oesophagus was perforated during this manoeuvre and resulted in an oesophagobronchial fistula with subsequent mediastinitis and mediastinal emphysema. Using a self-expandable plastic-covered metal stent it was possible to cover the perforation and overcome the patient's dysphagia. The mediastinitis healed under intravenous administration of cefotaxim (2 g three times daily), netilmicin (400 mg daily) and metronidazole (500 mg three times daily), for 5 days.