Successful Management of Delayed Esophageal Rupture with T-Tube Drainage Using Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

• Main Authors: Young Woo Do, Chang Young Lee, Sungsoo Lee, Ha Eun Kim, Bong Jun Kim, Jin Gu Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2016-12-01
• Series: Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
• Subjects: Esophagus; perforation; T-tube; Boerhaave syndrome; Delayed diagnosis
• Online Access: http://www.kjtcvs.org/journal/download_pdf.php?doi=10.5090/kjtcs.2016.49.6.478

Spontaneous perforation of the esophagus after forceful vomiting is known as Boerhaave syndrome, a rare and life-threatening condition associated with a high rate of mortality. The management of Boerhaave syndrome is challenging, especially when diagnosed late. Herein, we report the successful management of late-diagnosed Boerhaave syndrome with T-tube drainage in a 55-year-old man. The patient was transferred to our institution 8 days after the onset of symptoms, successfully managed by placing a T-tube, and was discharged on postoperative day 46 without complications.