Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences
Emergency: requires immediate attention
Spontaneous rupture of esophagus
Print
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed
Emergency: requires immediate attention

Spontaneous rupture of esophagus

Print Images (1)
Contributors: Abhijeet Waghray MD, Christine Osborne MD, Paritosh Prasad MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Alerts and Notices

Synopsis

Spontaneous rupture of esophagus : Chest pain, Vomiting, Pleural effusion, Subcutaneous emphysema
Rupture of esophagus is a rare phenomenon causing leakage of esophageal contents into the mediastinum, with development of systemic inflammation and reactive pleural effusion. Esophageal rupture may be iatrogenic due to recent instrumentation, especially upper endoscopy, and with therapeutic procedures such as stent placement or stricture dilation. Spontaneous perforations, also known as Boerhaave syndrome, occur secondary to a sudden increase in intraluminal pressure combined with negative intrathoracic pressure. This may be due to vomiting or retching, although between 25%-45% of patients may not have such preceding history. Spontaneous ruptures are often found in the distal esophagus. The classic triad of symptoms for spontaneous esophageal rupture is known as Mackler triad and includes the sudden onset of chest pain and subcutaneous emphysema after recent vomiting or retching, often following dietary overindulgence.

Other common symptoms include pain over the anterior chest or abdomen, dysphagia, dyspnea, neck pain, back pain, or hematemesis. Physical exam may reveal tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, crepitus, upper abdominal rigidity, and shock. The mortality from esophageal rupture remains quite high, with mortality rates steadily increasing as the time to diagnosis from rupture increases.

Codes

ICD10CM:
K22.3 – Perforation of esophagus

SNOMEDCT:
19995004 – Spontaneous rupture of esophagus

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Reviewed:12/12/2017
Last Updated:01/17/2018
Copyright © 2023 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Emergency: requires immediate attention
Spontaneous rupture of esophagus
Print  
A medical illustration showing key findings of Spontaneous rupture of esophagus : Chest pain, Vomiting, Pleural effusion, Subcutaneous emphysema
Copyright © 2023 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.