Repair of cervical esophageal perforation using longus colli muscle flap: a case report of a patient with cervical spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Perforation of the esophagus after anterior cervical spine surgery is a rare, but well-recognized complication. The management of esophageal perforation is controversial, and either nonoperative or operative treatment can be selected. PURPOSE: Several reports have described the use of a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap for esophageal repair. In this case report, we describe a longus colli muscle flap as a substitute for a sternocleidomastoid flap in a patient with an esophageal perforation. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. PATIENT SAMPLE: A 20-year-old man sustained cervical spinal cord injury, on diving and hitting his head against the bottom of a pool. A C6 burst fracture was observed with posterior displacement of a bone fragment into the spinal canal. The patient exhibited complete paralysis below the C8 spinal segment level. METHODS: The patient underwent subtotal corpectomy of the sixth cervical vertebra with the iliac bone graft and augmented posterior spinal fixation (C5-7) with pedicle screws. After the primary operation, the patient showed signs of infection such as throat pain, a high fever, and osteolytic change of the grafted bone by cervical radiograph. A second operation was performed to replace the graft bone using fibula. On the day after the operation, food residue was confirmed in the suction drainage tube, suggesting esophagus perforation. A third operation was immediately performed to confirm and treat esophagus perforation, although apparent esophageal perforation could not be detected at the second operation. Because the erosion around the perforation of the esophageal posterior wall was extensive, a longus colli muscle flap transposition was accordingly performed into the interspace between the esophageal posterior wall and the grafted bone in addition to simple suturing of the perforation. RESULTS: Neither high fever nor pharyngeal pain has recurred at latest follow-up, 5 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the use of a longus colli muscle flap for esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery.     

Successful surgical management of a delayed pharyngo-esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine plating

A case report of a 41-year-old man who had a delayed pharyngo-esophageal perforation without instrumentation failure 7 years after anterior cervical spine plating is presented and the literature on this issue is reviewed. This injury resulted from repetitive friction/traction between the retropharyngo-esophageal wall and the cervical plate construct leading to a pseudodiverticulum and perforation. Successful treatment of the perforation was obtained after surgical repair using a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. This case stresses the necessity of careful long-term follow-up in patients with anterior cervical spine plating for early detection of possible perforation and the use of muscle flap as the treatment of choice during surgical repair.

     

Esophageal perforation associated with cervical spine surgery: report of two cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery is a rare complication with various clinical presentations and treatments. METHODS: Two cases of esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery are described, one occurring in the immediate postoperative period and one several years after plate stabilization of the cervical spine. RESULTS: Primary suturing of the acute perforation and diversion of the salivary flow by means of T-tube placement after delayed presentation allowed successful healing of the esophageal defects. CONCLUSION: When encountering acute dysphagia after cervical spine surgery, one should think of an esophageal perforation and install immediate further diagnostics and therapy. Treatment depends on the time of detection and size of the perforation. In early stages, with vital tissues, primary suturing is the treatment of choice. If presentation is late, it seems advisable to limit the procedure to simple drainage after removal of foreign bodies.     

Esophageal perforation from anterior cervical screw migration

BACKGROUND: Esophageal perforation from anterior cervical instrumentation migration is an uncommon but potentially highly morbid or even fatal complication. Early recognition and aggressive investigation and treatment are essential to ensure good outcome. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 58-year-old man underwent C6 vertebrectomy and C5-7 interbody fusion with a cage and anterior cervical plate. After surgery he developed fever and recurrence of his symptoms and deficits, but was managed expectantly. He was then referred to the author's institution. A barium swallow demonstrated an esophageal fistula (a Gastrograffin swallow was falsely negative) caused by a migrated screw; serial radiographs confirmed its passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Revision surgery was required to repair the perforation and reconstruct the cervicothoracic spine. Intraoperative esophageal injection of methylene blue was helpful in demonstrating the site of leakage. Despite a prolonged postoperative course complicated by pulmonary embolus, the patient recovered with minimal residual deficit, and continues to do well 2 years later. CONCLUSIONS: A high index of suspicion followed by aggressive investigation are crucial in the setting of unexpected neck pain, new neurologic deficit, fever, or swallowing difficulties in the early postoperative period after anterior cervical spine instrumentation. If esophageal perforation is suspected, a barium swallow is recommended over Gastrograffin, which, although less irritating to the surrounding tissues, may be falsely negative. Intraoperative methylene blue injection into the esophageal lumen is useful in identifying the site of perforation.     

Esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery: a review of the literature for over half a century with a demonstrative case and a proposed novel algorithm

Purpose

To review relevant data for the management of esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery.

Methods

A case of delayed esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery has been presented and the relevant literature between 1958 and 2014 was reviewed. A total of 57 papers regarding esophageal perforation following anterior cervical surgery were found and utilized in this review.

Results

The treatment options for esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery were discussed and a novel management algorithm was proposed.

Conclusion

Following anterior cervical surgery, patients should be closely followed up in the postoperative period for risk of esophageal perforation. Development of symptoms like dysphagia, pneumonia, fever, odynophagia, hoarseness, weight loss, and breathing difficulty in patients with a history of previous anterior cervical surgery should alert us for a possible esophageal injury. Review of the literature revealed that conservative treatment is advocated for early and small esophageal perforations. Surgical treatment may be considered for large esophageal defects.

     

Oesophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery: management in four patients

Background  Oesophageal perforation related to anterior cervical surgery is an uncommon but well recognised and potentially life-threatening complication with an incidence of 0–3.4%. Our experience with this complication and a review of the literature are presented. Method  We retrospectively reviewed our clinical experience over 10 years and found four patients in whom an oesophageal perforation was recognised after anterior surgery for cervical spine trauma. In three patients the perforation was noticed in the early post-operative period and the other had a delayed presentation. In all patients, the hardware was removed, long-term intravenous antibiotics were administered and parenteral nutrition was instituted. In two patients a primary suture of the perforation was performed and in one of these an additional sternocleidomastoid myoplasty was carried out as well. One patient had conservative treatment and one died before closure of the perforation could be performed. Findings  The two patients, in whom surgical repair of the perforation was performed, recovered well with residual neurological deficits as expected due to the cervical trauma. In the patient in whom conservative treatment was instituted, healing of the perforation occurred. One patient died due to systemic complications, indirectly related to the perforation. Conclusions  Although not very frequent and sometimes difficult to diagnose, oesophageal perforations after anterior cervical surgery constitute a potentially life-threatening complication. Diagnosis is made by imaging or endoscopic studies, but clinical suspicion is most important. Basic treatment consists of surgery with removal of hardware, drainage of abscesses, primary closure of the perforation if possible, parenteral nutrition and antibiotic therapy. Residual instability should be recognised in time and may be anticipated in patients in whom there has been little time for solid bony fusion. Successful management depends on early diagnosis and immediate institution of treatment.     

Treatment of perforation in the healthy esophagus: analysis of 12 cases

Background Perforation of the esophagus still carries high morbidity and mortality rates, and there is no gold standard for the surgical treatment of choice. Materials and methods We reviewed the records of patients treated for esophageal perforation in the last decade at the General Surgery Unit of the University of Udine. Patients suffering from perforation secondary to surgical procedures or neoplastic disease were ruled out. Results Eight males (66.7%) and four females (33.3%) met the inclusion criteria. The cause of perforation was iatrogenic in seven cases (58.3%) and spontaneous in five (41.7%). The perforation was in the cervical esophagus in five cases (41.7%) and at thoracic level in the other seven (58.3%). Two patients (16.7%) with cervical lesions were treated conservatively; two (16.7%) underwent primary closure and the insertion of a drainage tube; one patient with a distal cervical lesion underwent diversion esophagostomy; six patients had resection of the entire thoracic esophagus and terminal cervical esophagostomy; one had segmental resection of the distal thoracic esophagus and lateral diversion esophagostomy. In the five patients whose reconstruction was postponed, esophagogastroplasty surgery was performed with an anastomosis at cervical level in four cases and at thoracic level in one. The global mortality rate was 25%. Late diagnosis—more than 24 h after the perforation event—seems to be the only factor correlated with fatal outcome (p = 0.045). Conclusions The choice of treatment for perforation in a healthy esophagus depends mainly on the site and size of the lesion. Cervical lesions may be amenable to conservative treatment or require primary surgical repair, while thoracic lesions with associated sepsis or major loss of substance demand an aggressive approach, with esophageal resection and delayed reconstruction seeming to be the safest option.     

Subcutaneous cervical emphysema and pneumomediastinum due to a diastatic rupture of the cecum

Pneumomediastinum usually occurs after esophageal or chest trauma. Subcutaneous cervical emphysema as a presentation of non-traumatic colonic perforation following colorectal cancer or diverticulitis, is very rare.We report a case of a patient with rectal cancer who developed a diastatic cecum retroperitoneal perforation with a secondary pneumo-mediastinum and cervical emphysema. The patient was in treatment with a neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for a low rectal cancer.Treatment consisted in an emergency right hemi-colectomy with ileostomy and performance of distal colonic fistula.The Authors discuss the occurrence of pneumomediastinum and cervical emphysema complicating rectal cancer, pointing out ethio-pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. The importance of performing a diverting colostomy when neoadjuvant chemotherapy is scheduled in patients with stenotic rectal cancer, although not clinically occluded     

Esophageal Perforation: An Increasing Challenge

Esophageal perforation continues to be a challenge. The overall incidence is rising even though iatrogenic perforations are decreasing. With early diagnosis followed by prompt surgical treatment, most patients can be expected to survive. Roentgenographic contrast studies demonstrated a perforation in all but 1 of our patients who had this examination and should be used early in patients suspected of having an esophageal perforation.The mortality rate is directly related to the interval between perforation and initiation of treatment. Nonoperative treatment, even for cervical esophageal perforations, is not advocated. An aggressive approach, consisting of closure of the perforation and adequate drainage, is indicated for both diagnosis and surgical treatment.     

Spontaneous perforation of the cervical esophagus.

A rare case of spontaneous rupture of the cervical esophagus occurred during vomiting after eating. The plain x-ray film showed air in the neck, but barium swallow did not reveal the perforation. Operation performed two days later because of bleeding consisted of suturing two rents in the anterior wall of the cervical esophagus distal to the cricopharyngeus muscle, and the patient did well. The mechanism causing such a perforation is not well understood. With the absence of bleeding, treatment would ordinarily consist of drainage without suture.     

Traumatic rupture of the oesophagus and stomach

Thirty-nine cases of traumatic perforation of the oesophagus or stomach have been studied. Thirty-two of the perforations followed oesphagoscopy, five were `spontaneous,' and two were due to damage by a foreign body. Eight of the perforations occurred in the cervical oesophagus, 22 in the thoracic portion, and nine were in either the abdominal oesophagus or the stomach. Treatment was of two types—either operative closure of the perforation or a conservative routine of intravenous fluids, parenteral antibiotics, and cessation of oral feeding. In some patients treated conservatively, drainage procedures were also carried out. Five patients with terminal carcinoma, in whom oesophageal intubation after prolonged dysphagia caused perforation, had no treatment apart from analgesics and sedatives. Several of the patients treated by surgical closure had a concurrent definitive operation (resection of carcinoma in four cases and myotomy for achalasia in two cases). Fourteen of the 21 patients treated by repair or resection of the perforation survived. Ten of the 13 treated conservatively also survived. The good results of conservative treatment for cervical perforations appear to make it the treatment of choice. Only an occasional case of thoracic perforation is suitable for conservative treatment, and as a general rule perforations in this area and in the peritoneal cavity should be treated surgically.     

Surgical management of esophageal perforation

The recognition and management of esophageal perforation remain a problem. Diagnostic and treatment delays are common, and controversy continues regarding approaches to surgical intervention. Overall survival has increased with improved adjunctive modalities; however, morbidity and mortality remain high. A total of 115 consecutive cases of nonmalignant esophageal perforation were reviewed. There were 69 thoracic, 27 cervical, and 19 abdominal perforations. Etiology of the perforations was iatrogenic in 65 patients, traumatic in 28, and spontaneous perforation in 22. Symptoms included pain (71%), fever (51%), dyspnea (24%), and crepitus (22%). Contrast roentgenography was used in 78 patients and demonstrated the perforation in all but two patients. All but 20 patients had operations. In the last decade, the survival rate was 11.4 per cent for patients treated within 24 hours of perforation. Survival significantly improved in the last 10 years because of hyperalimentation, cardiopulmonary monitoring, and better antibiotic coverage. Treatment of choice is primary closure with drainage, regardless of the duration of the perforation. In selected patients who have cervical esophageal perforation, nonoperative management has a role.     

Esophageal perforation complicating with spinal epidural abscess,iatrogenic or secondary to first thoracic spine fracture?

Summary A 49-year-old drunken man was involved in a motorbike crash. He presented with cervical spine injury and multiple limbs fracture. Neuro-imaging demonstrated disruption of the C5–6 anterior longitudinal ligament, herniation of C3–4 and C5–6 discs, and Th1 compression fracture. The neurological deficits improved after anterior cervical decompression, fusion and fixation. One week later, he suffered from fever and severe upper back pain, and he developed paraplegia subsequently. The following image study disclosed esophageal perforation at the level of Th1 and epidural abscess spreading from levels Th1 to Th5. After proper management and rehabilitation, he achieved good recovery one year later at follow-up.We report the unique case of Th1 fracture with esophageal perforation complicated with spinal epidural abscess. The possible mechanism and the controversy concerning therapy for esophageal perforation are discussed.     

Perforation of the esophagus. Experience from a department of thoracic surgery

A series of 39 patients treated for perforation of the esophagus in a department of thoracic surgery is presented and discussed. All but three of the lesions arose from instrumentation within the esophagus. The treatment was mainly operative. There were no deaths among the nine patients with perforation of the cervical esophagus, but the mortality was 63% in the patients with thoracic lesions, partly as a result of frequent presence of serious disease in other organs. The authors stress the importance of more rigorous attention during intra-esophageal instrumentation to early detection and treatment of perforation.     

颈椎前路内固定术后中远期食管并发症

 目的 探讨颈椎前路内固定术后中远期食管并发症的发生率及其诊疗策略。方法 对2001年1月至2011年12月2316例行颈椎前路内固定手术患者发生的中远期食管并发症情况进行回顾性分析。食管中远期并发症包括术后2周以上发生的食管穿孔、食管气管瘘、食管皮下瘘、食管憩室、食管胸膜瘘及食管狭窄等。结果 共4例患者发生中远期食管并发症,发生率为0.17%(４/２３1６),其中食管穿孔发生率为0.09%(2例)。病例1为31岁男性患者,自体髂骨移植融合加钢板内固定(C5)术后7年发现食管憩室合并食管穿孔。手术取出内固定,清创后切除憩室,胸骨舌骨肌及肩胛舌骨肌肌瓣修补食管。病例2为46岁男性患者,自体髂骨移植融合加钢板内固定(C5)术后3年发现食管憩室。手术取出内固定,切除食管憩室,胸骨舌骨肌及肩胛舌骨肌肌瓣修补食管。病例3为58岁女性患者,自体髂骨移植融合加钢板内固定(C6)术后5年出现食管憩室。手术取出内固定,切除食管憩室,胸锁乳突肌肌瓣修补食管。病例4为56岁女性患者,钛网植骨融合加钢板内固定(C6)术后3年出现食管穿孔。手术取出内固定,清创后胸锁乳突肌肌瓣修补食管。4例患者术后食管并发症均获得成功治疗,恢复良好。结论 颈椎前路内固定术后中远期食管并发症的发生率较低,X线片、消化道造影及消化道内镜检查是主要的诊断方法,手术是其主要的治疗手段。     

Zenker's diverticulum associated with multilevel cervical osteomyelitis

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of cervical osteomyelitis possibly associated with a Zenker's diverticulum perforation. OBJECTIVES: To present clinical, radiologic, and surgical findings of a cervical osteomyelitis due to a Zenker's diverticulum perforation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A 56-year-old patient was in an intensive care unit for a severe head injury. He was fed via a nasogastric tube. Four months later he developed a pyogenic cervical vertebral infection. METHODS: Plain films and magnetic resonance imaging showed a diffuse cervical osteomyelitis. Investigation of his dysphagia revealed a Zenker's diverticulum. RESULTS: After administration of antibiotics and surgical treatment of the diverticulum, the cervical infection resolved. Plain films and magnetic resonance imaging showed healing with vertebral fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical osteomyelitis is uncommon. Only one case of direct contamination leading to cervical vertebral osteomyelitis after esophageal perforation has been previously described. Direct contamination of the prevertebral soft tissues by bacteria traveling through the fistula may have occurred. The development of vertebral osteomyelitis in this case is consistent with the hypothesis of direct contamination. Management relies on appropriate antimicrobial therapy and surgical management of the diverticulum. The association of Zenker's diverticulum with vertebral osteomyelitis and discitis is a unique, previously undescribed situation.     

Conservative management of esophageal perforation after a fall

INTRODUCTIONEsophageal perforation in the setting of blunt trauma is rare, and diagnosis can be difficult due to atypical signs and symptoms accompanied by distracting injury.PRESENTATION OF CASEWe present a case of esophageal perforation resulting from a fall from height. Unexplained air in the soft tissues planes posterior to the esophagus as well as subcutaneous emphysema in the absence of a pneumothorax on CT aroused clinical suspicions of an injury to the aerodigestive tract. The patient suffered multiple injuries including bilateral first rib fractures, C6 lamina fractures, C4–C6 spinous process fractures, a C7 right transverse process fracture with associated ligamentous injury and cord contusion, multiple comminuted nasal bone fractures, and a right verterbral artery dissection. Esophageal injury was localized using a gastrograffin esophagram to the cervical esophagus and was most likely secondary to cervical spine fractures. Because there were no clinical signs of sepsis and the esophagram demonstrated a contained rupture, the patient was thought to be a good candidate for a trial of conservative management consisting of broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics, oral care with chlorhexadine gluconate, NPO, and total parenteral nutrition. No cervical spine fixation or procedure was performed during this trial of conservative management. The patient was received another gastrograffin esophagram on hospital day 14 and demonstrated no evidence of contrast extravasation.DISCUSSIONEarly diagnosis and control of the infectious source are the cornerstones to successful management of esophageal perforation from all etiologies. Traditionally, esophageal perforation relied on a high index of clinical suspicion for early diagnosis, but the use of CT scan for has proved to be highly effective in diagnosing esophageal perforation especially in patients with atypical presentations. While aggressive surgical infection control is paramount in the majority of esophageal perforations, a select subset of patients can be successfully managed non-operatively.CONCLUSIONIn the setting of blunt trauma, esophageal perforation is rare and is associated with a high morbidity. In select patients who do not show any clinical signs of sepsis, contained perforations can heal with non-operative management consisting of broad spectrum antibiotics, strict oral hygiene, NPO, and total parenteral nutrition.     

Operative and nonoperative management of esophageal perforations.

During a 21-year period, 72 patients were treated for esophageal perforations; the diagnosis was made only at postmortem examination in 13 other patients. Fifty-eight of 85 patients (68%) sustained iatrogenic perforations, 11 patients (13%) had "spontaneous" perforation, nine patients (11%) had foreign body related perforation, and seven patients (8%) had perforation caused by external trauma. Eleven cervical perforations, contained between the cervical paravertebral structures, plus eight thoracic perforations, contained in the mediastinum, were treated with antibiotics, intravenous hydration, and nasogastric drainage. The mortality rate after this nonoperative approach was 16% (3/19 patients). Indications for operative treatment in 53 patients were hydropneumothorax with mediastinal emphysema, sepsis, shock and respiratory failure. The operative mortality rate in these instances was 17% (9/53 patients). Six of the nine patients who died had been operated on more than 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. For cervical perforations the best results were obtained by drainage plus repair of the perforation (mortality rate: 0%; 0/10 patients) and for thoracic perforations by suturing supported by a pedicled pleural flap (mortality rate: 11%; 1/9 patients). Simple drainage of thoracic perforation was followed by a mortality rate of 43% (3/7 patients).     

Late esophageal perforation complicating anterior cervical plate fixation in ankylosing spondylitis: a case report and review of the literature

Esophageal perforation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rare complication in anterior cervical spine surgery and has not been reported before. A 50-year-old patient with AS developed incomplete tetraplegia after minimal trauma. C5 pedicle fracture was diagnosed and treated predominantly by physical therapy until neurological symptoms progressed. Cervical spine MRI showed C6/7 fracture and spinal cord compression. The patient underwent dorsal laminectomy, C5–7 anterior cervical fusion using allograft iliac crest and CASPAR-plate fixation. Delayed esophageal perforation appeared 10 months postoperatively when he came first to our hospital. He complained of dysphagia and developed acute dyspnea. Posterior stabilization with two plates was performed followed by removal of the ventral plate and screws. The esophageal laceration was sutured. The patient was treated with antibiotics and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Position of fracture and implants were accurate at 18 months postoperatively. The patient had persistent minor neurological deficits (Frankel D) at last follow-up. We conclude that esophageal perforation after anterior spinal fusion is a rare complication. Minor traumas in patients with AS are unstable and can result in significant spinal injury. Dorsoventral stabilization should be performed to avoid further complications.     

Seatbelt injury causing perforation of the cervical esophagus: a case report and review of the literature

Blunt trauma to the head and neck is a rare cause of cervical esophageal perforation. We report a cervical esophageal perforation caused by compression by a shoulder-harness seatbelt during a high-speed motor vehicle crash. We are not aware of a similar case in the trauma literature.