Boerhaave síndrome

Spontaneous esophageal perforation. A clinical case and review of literature

Abstract

Spontaneous esophageal perforation or Boerhaave syndrome is rather an unusual condition. It may be defined as the rupture of the esophagus that is not associated to trauma, invasive explorations, previous esophagus pathology or foreign bodies. Esophageal ruptures are considered as the most severe perforations of the digestive tract, with high morbimortality rates which are mainly associated to the development of subsequent mediastinitis. The study presents a 63-year-old patient who, after copious food intake, evidences unsuccessful effort to vomit effort and subsequent intense epigastric pain, accompanied by subcutaneous emphysema. Abdominal contrast scan reveals paraesophageal collection and a decision is made to perform an emergency surgery upon the suspicion of Boerhaave syndrome. It is worth pointing out that time for surgical resolution is the main prognostic element, and thus, this condition is to be considered as differential diagnosis in patients with acute thoracic pain.