A case of spontaneous esophageal rupture in an elderly female induced by swallowing *
We experienneed a case of spontaneous esophageal rupture in an elderly female, A 65-year-old woman with a sudden onset of chest and back pain after drinking tea visited a local physician. A diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was made and the patient was admined to the hospital. Chest computed lomography, coronary angiography and aortography were performed but a precise diagnosis was not made. The following day. a chest X-ray revealed right hydropneumothorax. A drainage tube was placed in the right thoracic cavily and the saburral fluid was suctioned, A diagnosis of esophageal rupture was made by esophagography with gastrogratin. She was immediarcly transferred to our hospital and. 26 hours after the onset, a right thoracotomy. suture of the rupture site. drainage of the right thoracic cavity and a gastrostomy were performed. A longitudinal tear. 2.5 cm in length. was revealed in the right wall of the lower esophagus. The postoperative course was uneventful end the patient was diseharged 40 days after the operation. Cases of sponlaneous rupture of the esophagus into the right thoracic cavity induced by swallowing in elderly females are extremely rare.(Accepted on May 25, 2000) Kawasaki Igakkaishi 26 (2 ) : 121 -126, 2000
