Effort Rupture of Esophagus: One Case

Abstract

Effort rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave's syndrome) is a spontaneous perforation of the esophagus that is most commonly results from a sudden increase in intra-esophageal pressure combined with negative intra-thoracic pressure caused by several causes. The patient was a 42 years old man with a major complaint of epigastric pain and fever after drinking 500 mL of 25% alcohol. An emergency laparotomy was performed under the diagnosis of gastric perforation, but the abdomen was immediately closed because of the absence of abnormalities. A fever of 38.6ºC and a dyspnea was found after 18 hr of lapse, a pleural drainage tube was performed after the test puncture, which showed the black-brown sticking pus. This patient was resuscitated by conservative treatment such as infusion, blood transfusion, and gastrostomy.