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Esophageal Rupture

By

Kristle Lee Lynch

, MD, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania

Reviewed/Revised Mar 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Esophageal rupture may be iatrogenic during endoscopic procedures or other instrumentation or may be spontaneous (Boerhaave syndrome). Patients are seriously ill, with symptoms of mediastinitis Mediastinitis Mediastinitis is inflammation of the mediastinum. Acute mediastinitis usually results from esophageal perforation or occurs after median sternotomy. Symptoms include severe chest pain, dyspnea... read more . Diagnosis is by esophagography with a water-soluble contrast agent. Immediate surgical repair and drainage are required.

Endoscopic procedures are the primary cause of esophageal rupture, but spontaneous rupture may occur, typically related to vomiting, retching, or swallowing a large food bolus.

The most common site of rupture is the distal esophagus on the left side. Acid and other stomach contents cause a fulminant mediastinitis and shock. Pneumomediastinum Pneumomediastinum Pneumomediastinum is air in mediastinal interstices. The main causes of pneumomediastinum are Alveolar rupture with dissection of air into the interstitium of the lung with translocation to... read more Pneumomediastinum is common.

Symptoms and Signs of Esophageal Rupture

Symptoms of esophageal rupture include chest and abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, hematemesis, and shock. Subcutaneous emphysema is palpable in about 30% of patients. Mediastinal crunch (Hamman sign), a crackling sound synchronous with the heartbeat, may be present.

Diagnosis of Esophageal Rupture

  • Chest and abdominal x-rays

  • Esophagography

Chest and abdominal x-rays showing mediastinal air, pleural effusion, or mediastinal widening suggest the diagnosis.

Diagnosis of esophageal rupture is confirmed by esophagography with a water-soluble contrast agent, which avoids potential mediastinal irritation from barium. CT of the thorax detects mediastinal air and fluid but does not localize the perforation well. Endoscopy may miss a small perforation.

Treatment of Esophageal Rupture

  • Endoscopic stenting or surgical repair

Pending surgical repair or endoscopic stenting, patients should receive broad-spectrum antibiotics (eg, gentamicin plus metronidazole or piperacillin/tazobactam) and fluid resuscitation as needed for shock. Even with treatment, mortality is high.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Garamycin, Genoptic, Genoptic SOP, Gentacidin, Gentafair, Gentak , Gentasol, Ocu-Mycin
Flagyl, Flagyl ER, Flagyl RTU, LIKMEZ, MetroCream, MetroGel, MetroGel Vaginal, MetroLotion, Noritate, NUVESSA, Nydamax, Rosadan, Rozex, Vandazole, Vitazol
Zosyn, Zosyn Powder
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