Esophageal exclusion and bypass for corrosive injury: The lessons learnt
A 3-year-old boy underwent emergency end cervical esophagostomy, decompressive gastrostomy and feeding jejunostomy following esophageal perforation sustained during esophageal dilatation for corrosive stricture. Three months later, a substernal gastric pull up was performed, the native oesophagus being retained in situ with both ends divided and suture closed. Excision of the diseased native oesophagus was not attempted on account of prior mediastinitis in the setting of corrosive esophageal stricture. One year following the substernal gastric pull up, the boy presented with a 4-weeks history of repeated episodes of fever, tachypnea and an expiratory stridor on physical exercise or crying. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and barium swallow did not reveal any anastomotic stricture or delayed gastric emptying which could predispose to recurrent pulmonary aspiration. Subsequent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan of the chest revealed a size 3 × 11 cms. posterior mediastinal cystic structure causing anterior and lateral displacement of the trachea with compression of its lumen [Figures and ]. A diagnosis of mediastinal mucocele of the retained native oesophagus was made. The mucocele was excised by a right posterolateral thoracotomy. Operative findings revealed a thick walled, tense, mucocele containing frankly purulent fluid and an ulcerated mucosa []. There were significant adhesions to the mediastinal structures. The early postoperative issues were related to upper airway edema which gradually resolved. At 15-months post-surgery, the patient is free of dysphagia, regurgitation, or respiratory symptoms with an appropriate weight gain.