Spontaneous oesophageal perforation as a complication of vomiting in gastroenteritis -- case report

This is a case report of oesophageal perforation as the complication of a commonly encountered benign disease -- gastroenteritis. A 68-year-old man first presented to the Emergency Department complaining of watery diarrhoea. He was treated and discharged. He re-attended 5 h later complaining of epigastric pain radiating to his back, vomiting bloodstained fluid and persistent watery diarrhoea. Again, he was treated and discharged. He re-attended 3 days later complaining of anorexia, cough, dyspnoea and right-sided chest pain radiating to his back, and subjective weight loss in the previous few days. Chest X-ray revealed right pleural effusion, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema in the supraclavicular fossae. Computed chest tomogram and water-soluble contrast swallow confirmed 'spontaneous' oesophageal perforation. Although rare, this entity must be considered in any acutely ill patient complaining of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, especially after recent vomiting.