title: Normal chest X-ray should not mislead.
abstract: A lung ultrasound (US) can be routinely performed at the bedside by a trained intensive care unit physician and may provide accurate information about a lung's status that has diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. Oesophageal perforations are rare, and due to the rarity of this type of perforation and its non-specific presentation, the diagnosis and treatment are delayed, leading to a high mortality rate. We present a 70-year-old woman with a postoesophagoscopy perforated oesophagus. Lung US detected pneumothorax and mild pleural effusion that were not present on the postoperative chest X-ray. The early detection of the perforation led to a good outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, KOC Hospital, Fahahil, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Zouheir Ibrahim
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Bitar
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Hesham Sabry
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: el-Emam
authors.forename: Mohammed Zouheir
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Bitar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography