The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 51, 837-839, Copyright © 1991 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Blast injury to the thoracic esophagus
AA Guth, TH Gouge and HJ Depan
Department of Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York.
Blast injury causing pneumatic disruption of the esophagus is a rare and
potentially lethal injury. The mortality and morbidity rate are high unless
the injury is promptly recognized and treated. Our experience with a
midesophageal perforation resulting from a blast injury emphasizes the
importance of awareness of this condition and of the chest radiograph in
making an early diagnosis.