Has anyone else had an esophageal perforation during surgery?

[Ellie_May 0]

I had my sleeve surgery on 5/15/18. The surgery reportedly went well. When my surgeon took a final look down my throat, he saw blood. ENT was called in, and confirmed a tear in my esophagus. I was kept NPO and had a CT of my throat the next morning. It was confirmed that the tear was actually a perforation. Neither the surgeon nor the anesthesiologist knew when the perforation happened. I received IV antibiotics and could have nothing by mouth for 4 days, until a swallow study confirmed that the tear had closed. Apparently this is a very rare complication. Just wondered if anyone else has had this happen.

[CaribeRidge 104]

Oh, no. Not happened to me but how awful and worrisome. Hope you heal quickly.

[ScoutCR 126]

I have a friend that this happened to over 15 years ago with his gastric bypass. He had a tough time because it progressed once he could eat soft food again. This surgery has come a long way since then and I am sure you will be ok. My friend is fine today. Hope all goes well for you.

[Sleeved36 356]

Esophagus is highly vascular and heals quickly. Your surgeon did a good job getting a specialist and checking everything right away.

Important to control your nausea as you progress to PO intake. You do not want to throw up bc it can cause stress on the perforation.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Uber frightening. I must confess this NOT something I was contemplating. Well I will take comfort that my surgery will be taking place in a top-line trauma center and teaching hospital🏣. Loads of primary, intermediate and senior level surgeons. Only way I would suffer any problems is if there were too many fingers in my quickly cracked open chest and abdominal areas, just get it clamped off if it's bleeding-- you can sort out whose territory it is, when things calm down, gentlemen!😷✌

[Ellie_May 0]

I too had my surgery in a top-rated hospital and my surgeons are also trauma surgeons. I was fortunate that the tear was caught right away. I don’t know if it was the anesthesiologist or CRNA that placed the tubes and bougie, but I was told the intubation wasn’t difficult. Seems like a careless mistake on someone’s part.