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[Stomach rupture due to barotrauma (a report of the 13th case since 1969)]
U Tedeschi1, G D'Addazio, R Scordamaglia
1III Divisione di Chirurgia Generale, Ospedale San Martino, Genova.
Abstract:
The thirteenth case of rupture of the stomach after a diving accident since 1969 is reported. This rare event was caused by equipment failure and panic reaction, which induced swallowing air during diving and consequential gas expansion in gastric cavity meanwhile the rapid ascent. Peritoneal decompression by paracentesis quickly improved the patient's condition and the following surgical laparotomy revealed a gastric tear along the lesser curvature, which was closed by suturing. The patient presented a postoperative splenic abscess two months later; literature demonstrated that rupture of a filled stomach may lead to septic complications.