TY - JOUR T1 - Anastomotic esophageal leak due to Taenia saginata following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer JF - Saudi Medical Journal JO - Saudi Med J SP - 241 LP - 243 VL - 27 IS - 2 AU - Reem M. Baleela AU - Mohamed Y. Huessain AU - Mohamed E. Ahmed Y1 - 2006/02/01 UR - http://smj.org.sa/content/27/2/241.abstract N2 - A 50-year-old female with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower third of the esophagus underwent an esophagectomy via laparotomy and right thoracotomy. She developed a major anastomotic leak on the third postoperative day. The chest tube slipped out on the 10th postoperative day and a segment of Taenia saginata tapeworm came out through the tube drain site and was extracted. She was given praziquantel tablets treatment; after which the leakage dropped dramatically and ceased completely after one week. Patients scheduled for esophagectomy who experienced recurrent abdominal pain in areas endemic with a tapeworm need to be screened for taeniasis before surgery. ER -