Transhiatal esophagectomy in Boerhaave syndrome – Case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION: Boerhaave syndrome or spontaneous rupture of the esophagus wall is a rare life-threatening condition. It is more common in male gender and is due to a very swift rise in intraluminal pressure during vomiting. The patient usually presents with chest pain after vomiting. In some cases, there is subcutaneous emphysema in the neck or upper chest. Due to its rarity, the diagnosis is often not straightforward. Chest radiography can reveal pneumothorax, pleural effusion or pneumomediastinum, but diagnosis is more likely possible with an oral contrast X-ray study. CASE PRESENTATION: This paper reports a clinical case with surgical approach, in a 68-years old patient with a 48 h period between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of a Boerhaave syndrome. Firstly, the patient was admitted with a presumptive diagnosis of pneumonia. The patient was with chest pain, fever and vomiting. An emergent transhiatal esophagectomy was performed with primary anastomosis with no significant post-operative morbidity and allowing for the patient to return to previous daily routine with a good quality of life. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Boerhaave syndrome is a rare life-threatening surgical condition. Surgery is the most effective treatment. It is necessary to have a high index of suspicion. Treatment should promptly start because prognosis is related with time from diagnosis, with increasing mortality rate if no treatment is performed.