Reversible total esophageal exclusion.

A 23-year-old man with miliary tuberculosis had severe esophageal hemorrhage secondary to eroding tuberculous nodes. Balloon tamponade and packing with gauze did not alter the profuse bleeding. Empyema of the right thorax, massive mediastinal nodes, an unknown site of bleeding in the esophagus, and diffuse pulmonary involvement with tuberculosis precluded a thoracotomy. Because of widespread peritoneal tuberculosis, permanent esophageal exclusion by ligation was rejected as bowel interposition would have been extremely difficult at a later time. Reversible total esophageal exclusion was successfully utilized.