Thoracic Key

Introduction Print Section Listen Esophageal perforation is a challenging clinical condition that requires prompt diagnosis and management. Delay in identification and/or treatment results in high rates of morbidity and mortality….

Introduction Print Section Listen While accidental ingestion of caustic materials is more common in children, intentional ingestion is the leading cause of caustic esophageal injury in adults. The diagnosis should…

Introduction Print Section Listen A multiplicity of terms has been used over the years to describe paraesophageal hernia. These reflect the considerable confusion that persists to this day concerning its…

Introduction Print Section Listen Esophageal trauma can result from numerous etiologies, including iatrogenic injuries from endoscopic instrumentation or other thoracic surgical procedures, penetrating or blunt trauma, caustic ingestion during suicide…

Introduction Print Section Listen Benign strictures of the esophagus usually result from scarring and subsequent tissue contraction secondary to esophageal wall injury. This pathology is caused in most cases by…

Introduction Print Section Listen Management of the failed reflux operation is emerging as an important challenge in modern surgical foregut practice. Over the last decade and a half, the number…

Introduction Print Section Listen Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by the chronic reflux of gastric acid from the stomach to the esophagus. This may be the result of an…

Introduction Print Section Listen Barrett esophagus (BE) is a condition in which the stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by intestinal columnar epithelium, a process called intestinal metaplasia…

Introduction Print Section Listen For many years, there has been a controversy in the surgical literature regarding the existence or relevance of the short esophagus to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)…