Management of oesophageal leak and perforation by temporary metallic stents: a local experience

Seven patients with oesophageal perforation were studied. Three patients were due to anastomotic leakage in the right chest following oesophagogastrectomy for carcinoma. Two patients following injection scierotherapy for oesophageal varcices. A child following extraction of a foreign body by a rigid scope, and one patient following dilatation of a benign oesophageal stricture. In all patients, the metallic stent insertion stopped the leakage and healed the rent. There were no major complications and one patient with carcinoma died 2 weeks later from an unrelated cause