Spontaneous esophageal perforation in an acute burn patient.
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.
Haws
M J
MJ
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.
Kucan
J O
JO
Zamboni
W A
WA
Hussmann
J
J
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