Abstract
Between December 2008 and October 2012, four consecutive patients with spontaneous esophageal rupture underwent surgery at Nihon University Itabashi Hospital (Tokyo, Japan). All 4 patients were treated by anterolateral thoracotomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the right half lateral decubitus position. Three patients underwent intraoperative placement of a thoracostomy tube in the right-side thoracic cavity. We administered sivelestat sodium hydrate from the intraoperative period for all cases, and also administered carperitide postoperatively in one case. All of the patients underwent the surgery safely with no serious postoperative complications. Anterolateral thoracotomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the right half lateral decubitus position helps to reduce the operative time and ensures a good view of the surgical field. In addition, we considered this to be a useful method in promoting quick recovery from advanced invasive surgery to the use of sivelestat sodium hydrate, carperitide and insertion of a contralateral thoracostomy tube.
