Esophageal perforation in children treated with covered biliary stents: report of three cases in a fourth level hospital in Medellín, Colombia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47892/rgp.2026.462.2102Keywords:
Esophageal Perforation, Foreign-Body Reaction, Endoscopy, PediatricsAbstract
Esophageal perforation is a severe digestive tract injury with serious complications and high mortality, representing a diagnostic challenge in the pediatric population due to the nonspecific nature of symptoms. Causes include external trauma, caustic ingestion, foreign body impaction, and iatrogenic injuries. We describe three pediatric patients with esophageal perforation of different etiologies successfully managed by endoscopic placement of fully covered metallic biliary stents, combined with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and nutritional support. Two cases were secondary to impacted foreign bodies (a plastic fragment and a coin), and one was due to caustic ingestion. In all cases, complete closure of the esophageal defect was achieved without the need for surgery, with resolution of the leak and favorable clinical outcomes. The use of covered biliary stents is an effective and safe alternative for the management of benign esophageal perforations in selected children, allowing defect closure and avoiding high-morbidity surgical interventions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Daniela Londoño-Cañas, Álvaro Gómez Vanegas, Mónica Contreras, Catalina Ortiz, Diana Sánchez, Santiago Sánchez, Gabriel Mosquera-Klinger
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