Gastric Rupture Secondary to a Heimlich Maneuver: A Case Report

A gastric rupture resulting from abdominal trauma is a rare occurrence with a frequency of less than 2% of blunt abdominal injuries. Furthermore, gastric perforation secondary to the Heimlich maneuver is even rarer, with only a handful of cases reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of isolated gastric rupture following a successful Heimlich maneuver. Laparotomy revealed a large perforation along the lesser curvature of the stomach. The perforation was repaired by primary closure and reinforced with omental patching.