Iatrogenic injury of the hypopharynx in the pyriform sinus region and its successful treatment: description of a clinical case

Hypopharyngeal injury in the pyriform sinus area during diagnostic gastroduodenoscopy is a rare and potentially severe complication.In this paper, we describe successful treatment of a patient with such an injury complicated by the development of a soft tissue abscess of the neck. Treatment of the purulent complication was surgical and consisted of opening and draining of the soft paratracheal tissue abscess on the left side of the neck. The most important components of the treatment were antibiotic therapy and temporary prohibition of natural nutrition (nil per os) with complete parenteral and then enteral tube nutrition, which was continued until complete healing of the laryngeal injury. The patient suffering from pancreatic cancer was discharged from the clinic with restored natural (oral) food intake, in a satisfactory functional state and without weight loss.