[Esophageal injury following blunt thoracic trauma. A case report and review of the literature].

The aim of this article was to raise the awareness of the difficulties physicians face in the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal perforation following blunt thoracic trauma. We present a case of esophagus perforation following blunt chest trauma in the course of a motorcycle accident. Within 24 h the patient was admitted to the University hospital, and presented with progressive pain, subfebrile temperature, leukocytosis and pneumomediastinum. Emergency surgery revealed extensive esophageal lesions. A two-stage surgical approach was chosen with initial resection and temporary closure of the esophagus. After 2 months the integrity of the esophagus could be restored without complications.