DELAYED PRESENTATION OF ESOPHAGEAL-PERFORATION AS A RESULT OF OVERTUBE PLACEMENT

The first use of an overtube to assist endoscopy was described more th an 20 years ago. Since then a number of uses of over tubes have been d escribed, but relatively few complications have been reported. We repo rt a case of esophageal perforation caused by overtube insertion durin g endoscopic band ligation of varices. This case is unique in that the patient presented 13 days after the original procedure, and it is the first reported case of esophageal injury involving the modified Bard overtube. The existing literature involving overtube injury is also re viewed.