Gastric rupture during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Gastric rupture following ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a rare occurrence. We report two cases of documented gastric rupture plus two additional cases in which the clinical diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum was made and gastric rupture was assumed to be the mechanism. Review of the literature reveals the lesser curvature of the stomach to be the common site of rupture. This complication emphasizes the necessities of correct positioning of the jaw with mouth-to-mouth ventilation and careful assessment of air entry and chest movement following endotracheal intubation.