RT Book, Section A1 Paul, Subroto A1 Zellos, Lambros A2 Sugarbaker, David J. A2 Bueno, Raphael A2 Colson, Yolonda L. A2 Jaklitsch, Michael T. A2 Krasna, Mark J. A2 Mentzer, Steven J. A2 Williams, Marcia A2 Adams, Ann SR Print(0) ID 1105839568 T1 Techniques and Indications for Esophageal Exclusion T2 Adult Chest Surgery, 2e YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-178189-3 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1105839568 RD 2024/04/25 AB The four main causes of esophageal perforation are spontaneous perforation associated with protracted vomiting, also known as Boerhaave syndrome, iatrogenic injury from instrumentation, breakdown of esophageal reconstructions after esophagectomy, and penetrating trauma.1-4 Regardless of the etiology, mediastinal contamination from salivary, gastric, and biliary secretions, with the associated bacteria, leads to both local and systemic inflammatory responses. If the perforation is not controlled promptly, it will give rise to sepsis, which if left untreated, nearly 100% of the time, will result in mortality within 1 week.1,4,5 Despite advances in surgical technique and critical care over the past decades, esophageal perforation remains a challenging clinical problem. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment are the hallmarks of successful outcome after spontaneous (i.e., Boerhaave syndrome) and iatrogenic esophageal perforation. Advocates for stenting, primary esophageal repair, drainage with a T-tube, esophageal exclusion, esophageal diversion, and esophagectomy with upfront reconstruction for perforations can be found. This chapter describes the techniques and indications for esophageal exclusion.