Clinical case of Boerhaave´ s syndrome

Authors

  • Nelson Sánchez Recio Medico
  • Arlet Payrol Perez a physician specializing in Comprehensive General Medicine and Cardiology. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1861-9819
  • Manuel He serves as a specialist physician in the Intensive Care Unit of the Julio Trigo López Clinical Surgical Hospital.
  • Yuniesky Figueredo Lacasse specialist physician in the Intensive Care Unit of the Julio Trigo López Clinical Surgical Hospital.

Keywords:

Boerhaave Syndrome, Esophageal Rupture, Cardiac Arrest, Pleural Effusion, Thoracoabdominal Ultrasound, Shock.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Boerhaave's syndrome is a high-mortality surgical emergency characterized by transmural esophageal rupture secondary to sudden intraluminal hyperpressure.

Objective: To expose an atypical case of Boerhaave's syndrome in a young patient with a history of previous abdominal surgery.

Case Summary: A 24-year-old male with history of peptic ulcer disease who required abdominal surgery two years earlier for pyloric stenosis. He presented with postprandial vomiting and developed cardiac arrest during evaluation. After successful resuscitation, he required mechanical ventilation and developed refractory shock needing norepinephrine. Thoracoabdominal ultrasound revealed massive left pleural effusion, minimal right effusion, and marked gastric dilatation. Findings confirmed esophageal perforation. Subsequent clinical course was unfavorable.

Conclusions: Boerhaave's syndrome can manifest severely. History of upper abdominal surgery constitutes a potential risk factor. Thoracoabdominal ultrasound is essential for early diagnosis in critical patients. The fatal outcome reflects the severity of this condition when accompanied by severe hemodynamic instability.

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Author Biographies

Arlet Payrol Perez, a physician specializing in Comprehensive General Medicine and Cardiology.

Arlet Payrol Pérez, MD,  is a physician specializing in Comprehensive General Medicine and Cardiology. She works as a Cardiology specialist at the Julio Trigo López Clinical Surgical Hospital. She is a member of the Cuban Society of Cardiology and holds the position of Assistant Professor at the Julio Trigo López Faculty of Medical Sciences.

Manuel, He serves as a specialist physician in the Intensive Care Unit of the Julio Trigo López Clinical Surgical Hospital.

Manuel Cancio Bello de la Tejera, MD is a physician specializing in Comprehensive General Medicine and Pathological Anatomy. He is an Assistant Professor of Pathological Anatomy at the Julio Trigo López Faculty of Medical Sciences and a member of the Cuban Society of Pathological Anatomy.

Yuniesky Figueredo Lacasse, specialist physician in the Intensive Care Unit of the Julio Trigo López Clinical Surgical Hospital.

Yuniesky Figueredo Lacasse, MD,  is a physician specializing in Intensive and Emergency Medicine. He serves as a specialist physician in the Intensive Care Unit of the Julio Trigo López Clinical Surgical Hospital.

References

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Published

2026-04-10

How to Cite

1.
Sánchez Recio N, Payrol Perez A, Manuel, Figueredo Lacasse Y. Clinical case of Boerhaave´ s syndrome. Acta Médica [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 10 [cited 2026 Apr. 20];27. Available from: https://revactamedica.sld.cu/index.php/act/article/view/989

Issue

Vol. 27 (2026): publicación continua

Section

Presentación de caso

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Nelson Sánchez Recio, Arlet Payrol Pérez, Manuel Cancio Bello de la Tejera, Yuniesky Figueredo Lacasse

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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