To the Editor: Boerhaave’s syndrome is a rare condition in which increased intra-oesophageal pressure associated with forceful vomiting leads to spontaneous oesophageal rupture. Although the condition mostly affects middle-aged men,1 we present here a case arising as a complication of appendicitis in a child.
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- John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle, NSW.
Correspondence: kennethwo@yahoo.com
- 1. Inculet R, Clark C, Girvan D. Boerhaave’s syndrome and children: a rare and unexpected combination. J Pediatr Surg 1996; 31: 1300-1301.
- 2. Jamieson GG. Oesophageal trauma. In: Clunie GJ, Tjandra JJ, Francis DM, editors. Textbook of surgery. Melbourne: Blackwell Science, 1997.
- 3. Hill AG, Tiu AT, Martin IG. Boerhaave’s syndrome: 10 years experience and review of the literature. ANZ J Surg 2003; 73: 1008-1010.
- 4. Cameron JL, Kieffer RF, Hendrix TR, et al. Selective nonoperative management of contained intrathoracic esophageal disruptions. Ann Thorac Surg 1979; 27: 404-408.
- 5. Zwischenberger JB, Savage C, Bhutani MS. Esophagus. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, editors. Sabiston textbook of surgery: the biological basis of modern surgical practice. 17th ed. Pennsylvania: Elsevier Saunders, 2004.
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