Acute & emergency · UKMLA & AKT

Oesophageal perforation

A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise oesophageal perforation — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.

Key high-yield points

  • Oesophageal perforation is a life-threatening emergency - full-thickness breach of the oesophageal wall allowing luminal contents to leak into surrounding structures. The oesophagus lacks a serosa, so mediastinitis develops within hours. Mortality approximately doubles when treatment is delayed beyond 24 hours.

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