Esophageal Perforations in Premature Infants and Comments on the Diagnosis

Abstract
• Traumatic perforation of the esophagus follows oropharyngeal suctioning or endotracheal intubation. The diagnosis frequently is made from a routine chest roentgenogram that shows a nasogastric tube in the right pleural space with or Without a pneumothorax. The lesion is seen most often in infants of low birth Weight. (Am J Dis Child 134:367-368, 1980)