Atypical presentation of Boerhaave's syndrome as Enterococcal bacterial pericardial effusion

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2007 Feb;6(1):130-2. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2006.139667. Epub 2006 Sep 5.

Abstract

Boerhaave's perforation is a serious condition describing spontaneous transmural perforation of the oesophagus. The classical presentation of this condition is vomiting, lower thoracic pain and subcutaneous emphysema. However, the condition often presents atypically and it is important to reach the correct diagnosis quickly. We present the case of a 54-year-old woman with a Boerhaave's perforation that presented as Enterococcal bacterial pericardial effusion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chest Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Enterococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Esophageal Perforation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Mediastinal Emphysema / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardial Effusion / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pericardial Effusion / microbiology*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Syndrome
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vomiting / diagnostic imaging