[An update on esophageal perforation].

Esophageal perforation is a complicated clinical entity that demands a high level of diagnostic and therapeutic skills. The management alternatives vary from conservative treatment to esophagectomy, including primary suture and esophageal exclusion. This paper is a review of the literature and personal experience with this condition, focusing on etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic workout, treatment, complications and mortality. Finally, we propose a management algorithm.