Successful retrosternal esophageal bypass with gastric transposition in the management of esophago-pleural fistula as a complication of Boerhaave syndrome

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Boerhaave syndrome is a rare life-threatening condition that represents about 15 % of esophageal perforation and is associated with significant mortality. A subset of patients with effort rupture of the esophagus can present with esophago-pleural fistula. Management of esophago-pleural fistula remains a challenge due to the lack of high-quality evidence studies and the rarity of reported cases. Esophageal bypass with gastric transposition could have a role in management by using the same principles used in chronic esophago-pleural fistula in esophageal malignancy.

Case presentation: We report a unique case of a 33-year-old male with effort rupture of esophagus who developed esophago-pleural fistula successfully managed with an esophageal bypass with gastric transposition after multiple attempts of CSES placement have failed.

Clinical discussion: Boerhaave syndrome is a rare clinical presentation with mortality ranging from 20 to 50 %. A case of Boerhaave syndrome present with esophageal pleural fistula is uncommon despite the anatomical proximity of these structures. For delayed presentation deployment of CSES to control the fistula was not effective as retrosternal esophageal bypass in this case study.

Conclusions: Esophageal bypass with gastric transposition might be an effective strategy for esophago-pleural fistula compared to CSES placement following delayed presentation of Boerhaave syndrome but further appropriately designed studies are required to make recommendations.

Keywords: Boerhaave syndrome; Case report; Esophageal bypass; Esophago-pleural fistula; Gastric pull-up; Gastric transposition.