Between April 2000 and March 2004, 6 males and 2 females, with ages ranging from 2 to 6 years (mean, 3.8 years), underwent videothoracoscopic drainage for esophageal perforation with mediastinitis.
The mean hospital length of stay for patients in our series was 34.1 days (range, 14-47 days). There was no perioperative mortality. All patients were discharged from hospital without major sequelae.
Minimally invasive videothoracoscopic drainage is a feasible and effective method for esophageal perforation with mediastinitis in children.