Spontaneous esophageal rupture successfully treated by conservative therapy: report of two cases

Spontaneous esophageal rupture is a life-threatening condition for which surgical intervention within 24h after the onset is usually recommended. This report describes two cases of spontaneous esophageal rupture successfully treated by conservative therapy. In the first case, a 68-year-old man was hospitalized for severe upper abdominal pain following hematemesis. A large left pleural effusion occurred the next day and spontaneous esophageal rupture was diagnosed 1 week later, following placement of an intrathoracic drain. In the second case, a 38-year-old man was admitted for severe back pain following vomiting and esophageal rupture diagnosed within 3 h after onset by computed tomography (CT), which showed left pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. Both patients were successfully treated conservatively with continuous intrathoracic drainage, intravenous antibiotics, and hyperalimentation. We conclude that spontaneous esophageal rupture can be treated conservatively under intensive observation.