Delayed presentation of esophageal perforation as a result of overtube placement.

The first use of an overtube to assist endoscopy was described more than 20 years ago. Since then a number of uses of overtubes have been described, but relatively few complications have been reported. We report a case of esophageal perforation caused by overtube insertion during endoscopic band ligation of varices. This case is unique in that the patient presented 13 days after the original procedure, and it is the first reported case of esophageal injury involving the modified Bard overtube. The existing literature involving overtube injury is also reviewed.