[Clinical study of 8 cases of spontaneous esophageal rupture]

Among 8 patients with spontaneous esophageal rupture, mean age was 46.5 years, and there was only one female. Vomiting after drinking was the main cause of onset. In 4 patients who underwent drainage of the thoracic cavity or initial treatment by surgery within 24 hrs after onset, closure after layer-layer suture of the site of rupture was made in two patients in whom definitive diagnosis was obtained at the first medical examination and early discharge was possible. A definitive diagnosis was obtained after drainage of the thoracic cavity in the other two patients, and esophagectomy without thoracotomy was performed on the 55th day after onset in one and the other patient received only conservative treatment without surgery, both patients were discharged. Of 4 patients who underwent treatment after 24 hrs, two patients who recovered included one who received only conservative treatment and another who underwent closure by suture of the site of rupture and covering with a pedicled omental flap 12 days after onset. The other two patients died of MOF after operation. We propose the following guidelines for treatment of this condition; In patients in whom surgical treatment is possible within 24 hrs after onset, closure by layer-layer suture of the site of rupture may be indicated. In cases in which more than 24 hrs has elapsed after rupture spontaneous closure sometimes can be expected in patients with a rupture would less than 2 cm. In patients accompanied with progressing mediastinitis or pyothorax with drainage procedure surgical treatment is indicated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)