What damage can be done from barium remaining in the esophagus? in sept i had an attempted tif procedure done. however, while inserting the equipment into my esophagus, the physician sliced into my esophagus wall creating a pocket. at the time the physici

A : A tear in the lining of the esophagus will repair itself. It is likely that you were kept from eating to make sure the tear was not deeper, going throught the entire wall of the esophagus leading into the chest between the lungs (the mediastinum). Given that this was in september and you are not extremely sick (or worse), that likely did not happen. Barium remaining in the esophagus should not be problematic. There are many variable to the story you give that can make any answers difficult to give, but the time course you describe leaves me to believe that you do not have a hole in the esophagus.

Your : Your problem is not evident based on the information you provided. It's unlikely that a large amount of barium is left in this "pocket". If you're not getting the answers you feel you need, you should seek a second opinion. Your current doctors can likely suggest someone who they trust has enough expertise in this special problem to give you further information.