Sealing of esophageal perforation with a fully covered biliary stent in a pediatric patient

Abstract

Conservative treatment for esophageal perforations can cause problems related to both nutrition and wound healing in pediatric patients due to its long duration. This case report presents a 14-month-old female patient who underwent endoscopic balloon dilatation for esophageal stricture. The patient had been operated on for esophageal atresia in the neonatal period. Eight hours after discharge, the patient was hospitalized again due to esophageal perforation. Although conservative treatment lasting three weeks was the preferred method, it was unsuccessful. Therefore, a fully covered biliary stent was used instead of an esophageal stent, as the appropriate size stent could not be found. The stent sealed the perforation, and the patient started to be fed orally on the third day. The esophageal stent was removed on the 17th day, and no leakage was observed on the esophagogram. Although conservative methods are the first-line treatment for esophageal perforations in children, their long duration and the inability to feed for a long time are significant disadvantages. Fully covered self-expandable esophageal stents may be a reliable alternative for sealing esophageal perforations in pediatric patients, as they are in adults.