• Giuseppe Nigri, Francesca Pezzoli, Valentina Giaccaglia, Emilio Di Giulio, Francesco D'Angelo, Paolo Aurello, and Giovanni Ramacciato.
• Divisione di Chirurgia Generale, Università di Roma La Sapienza, II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Policlinico Sant'Andrea , Roma. giuseppe.nigri@uniroma1.it
• Ann Ital Chir. 2008 May 1;79(3):205-7.

Aim Of The PaperTo discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of spontaneous esophageal perforation. It is considered a surgical emergency with high rate of mortality. Its diagnosis can be difficult since the presentation is often nonspecific and can be confused with others disorders. Many strategies have been advocated for its management. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are required to decrease the poor prognosis of this condition. A conservative therapy may be effective in selected cases.ResultsWe described a successful non-surgical closure of a spontaneous esophageal perforation using an endoscopic stent, in an severely ill old patient. Although the treatment was delayed because of a late diagnosis, the patient survived the usually fatal condition.ConclusionThe key to improve the prognosis of this life-threatening emergency is the immediate and correct diagnosis and the most appropriate selection of the primary employed procedure.

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