Thoracoscopic management of a mediastinal abscess caused by extra-esophageal migration of a metal brush bristle.

Foreign body perforations of the esophagus are infrequent events yet have the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical consequences of esophageal perforation by a foreign body are dependent upon the severity of infectious sequelae and damage to surrounding structures by the foreign object itself, as detailed in previous published reports. We describe the thoracoscopic management of a mediastinal abscess caused by a foreign body perforation in a patient with an intact esophagus.