A case of esophageal perforation: Clinical and diagnostic management in emergency medicine

Abstract

Esophageal perforation is a welldefined and severe clinical condition. The associated mortality rates range between 5% and 40% and are worsened by delayed diagnosis. Rapid diagnosis and therapy provide the best chance for survival; however, a delay in diagnosis is common, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. There are several aetiologies of esophagus perforation. Most esophageal ruptures are secondary to medical instrumentation. Other causes are Boerhaave syndrome, toxic ingestions and radiation, foreign body ingestion, penetrating trauma, and, rarely, blunt chest trauma. We reported the clinical management and the diagnostic work-up case of esophagus perforation due to the foreign body ingestion.

Keywords

• Esophageal perforation
• pneumomediastinum
• penumothorax
• subcutaneous emphysema