title: [Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus. Two cases recently seen in an intensive care unit].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service d'accueil des urgences, Hôpitaux Civils de Colmar. koffel.catherine@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koffel
authors.forename: Gaétan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dangelse
authors.forename: Carmelino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Italiano
authors.forename: Farida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hennia
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Potelon
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haegy
mesh_terms: 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