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Echocardiographic Assessment Using Subxiphoid-Only Examination for Hypotensive Patients
Published on: April 18, 2025
Boerhaave's syndrome - a difficult differential diagnosis of chest pain
Gregoriana Zanini1, Alessandra Pelati, Marco Racheli
1Ospedale di Gavardo, U.O. di Cardiologia, Via Gosa, Gavardo, Brescia, Italy. gregoriana77@libero.it
Abstract:
Boerhaave's syndrome is a very rare disease characterised by a spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus. It is often misdiagnosed and there is no consensus as to the best treatment. We describe a case of a 61 year-old man without significant previous medical history presenting in the emergency room with acute chest and back pain. Despite objective and laboratory tests negative for chest pain screening, computed tomography showed the presence of mediastinal air and pneumothorax consistent with oesophagus rupture. Urgent surgical intervention saved the patient.
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