Boerhaave's Syndrome
- 1 July 2001
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
- Vol. 33 (1), 77-78
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00004836-200107000-00019
Abstract
The term Boerhaave's syndrome refers to esophageal rupture after a sudden increase in intraluminal pressure. This syndrome is most common among alcoholic adult men. This case report is that of a pediatric patient with a similar pathologic process. A 6-month-old Hispanic boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on chemotherapy arrested 3 weeks into his induction therapy. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures revealed a hydropneumothorax, which was managed with chest tube drainage. The underlying etiology was revealed 10 days later when feeds were introduced and found exiting the chest tube. A contrast study confirmed esophageal perforation, which was surgically repaired. A nontraumatic hydropneumothorax should raise the possibility of Boerhaave's syndrome (spontaneous esophageal rupture), even in pediatric patients. Such a finding warrants a contrast study to facilitate early diagnosis.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Boerhaaveʼs Syndrome. The Importance of Early Diagnosis and TreatmentAnnals of Surgery, 1976
- Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome). Necessity of early diagnosis and treatmentJAMA, 1976