title: Spontaneous esophageal perforation in an acute burn patient.
abstract: Spontaneous perforation of the esophagus is an uncommon and catastrophic event accompanied by extremely high morbidity and mortality. In a burn patient, diagnosis may be delayed because of painful burns that may mask the underlying problem. Diagnosis is dependent on a high index of suspicion and by inclusion of this entity in the differential diagnosis of chest pain. The authors report on a 45-year-old male who developed a spontaneous perforation of the esophagus while hospitalized for treatment of an 11% total body surface area burn. Diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment resulted in salvage of this patient. The pathophysiology of this disease and a review of the literature are presented.
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Haws
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Kucan
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hussmann
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014839:Vomiting / Q000150:complications