[Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus. Two cases recently seen in an intensive care unit].
BACKGROUND
Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus, also called Boerhaave's syndrome, is rare. Since its clinical manifestations are non specific, it must be evoked when confronted the sudden onset of chest or upper abdominal pain.


METHODS
Two patients were admitted to the emergency department with severe chest pain associated with vomiting. The CT scan obtained rapidly, revealed the perforation of the oesophagus. Despite early surgical treatment, only one patient survived, the second died of infectious complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Boerhaave's syndrome is fatal unless promptly recognized and adequately treated. A CT scan of the chest is the procedure of choice demonstrating the rupture.
Koffel
Catherine
C
Service d'accueil des urgences, Hôpitaux Civils de Colmar. koffel.catherine@wanadoo.fr
Dangelse
Gaétan
G
Italiano
Carmelino
C
Hennia
Farida
F
Potelon
Philippe
P
Haegy
Jean-Marie
JM
D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004630:Emergencies; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed