title: Boerhaave syndrome resulting from homicidal blunt trauma.
abstract: Boerhaave syndrome is an uncommon condition with high rate of mortality that is higher than 90%. The syndrome has classically been associated with sudden severe chest pain after severe emesis or retching. However, traumatic esophageal rupture secondary to blunt injury has been occasionally reported in the literature, usually from unintentional injury. We report the first case of Boerhaave syndrome resulting from homicidally inflicted blunt trauma to the abdomen, which is a rare finding that can be easily missed during an autopsy.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX; and †South Coast Forensics, LLC.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pustilnik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D012421:Rupture; D014754:Violence; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*