HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Pradip Kumar Sarkar Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Giri, D. Articles by Sarkar, P. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Giri, D. Articles by Sarkar, P. K. Related Collections Esophagus - other

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2007;31:139-140. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2006.10.009
Copyright © 2007, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Letters to the Editor

Successful esophageal repair in patients with Boerhaave's syndrome

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

Received 4 September 2006; accepted 11 October 2006.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: Flat 4, Block Q5, Accommodation office, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S57AU, UK. Tel.: +44 114 2423164 (Email: resonance9{at}yahoo.com).

Key Words: Esophagus • Rupture • Repair

We read with great interest the recent article by Ampollini et al. [1] and congratulate them on their success.

Spontaneous esophageal rupture was first described in 1724 by Boerhaave [2]. Misdiagnosis and delayed treatment may occur in majority of cases, it carries a high mortality if not treated early.

Successful treatment of spontaneous esophageal rupture was first described by Barrett [3] in 1947. The classical triad suggestive of esophageal rupture are forceful vomiting, chest pain, and subcutaneous emphysema. However, CT Thorax with contrast medium is now a gold standard for confirmative diagnosis of esophageal rupture.

Surgical repair should be reinforced with vascularised tissue flap such as pleura, the diaphragmatic flap [4,5]. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive surgical treatment has acceptable in-hospital mortality, however, the long-term outlook for the survivors is very favourable [5].

References

1. Ampollini L, Bobbio A, Carbognani, Rusca M. Successful esophageal repair in patients with Boerhaave's syndrome. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2006;30:555.[Free Full Text]
2. Boerhaave H. Atroeus, nec descriptiprius, morbi historica. Secundum medicae artis legas conscripta. lugduni, batavorum, boutesteniana, 1724. Bull Med Libr Assoc 1955;43:217-240.[Medline]
3. Barrett N. Report of a case of spontaneous perforation of oesophagus successfully treated by operation. Br J Surg 1947;35:216-218.[CrossRef]
4. Jara FM. Diaphragmatic pedicle flap for the treatment of Boerhaave's syndrome. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1979;78:931-933.[Abstract]
5. Kumar P, Sarkar PK. Late results of primary oesophageal repair for spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus (Boerhaave's syndrome). Int Surg 2004;89:15-20.[Medline]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Pradip Kumar Sarkar Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Giri, D. Articles by Sarkar, P. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Giri, D. Articles by Sarkar, P. K. Related Collections Esophagus - other