Esophageal perforations masked by steroids

Abstract

Esophageal perforation is usually an acute, life-threatening event, and its diagnosis can be established on the basis of obvious clinical and radiographic findings. This article describes two cases whereby symptoms of esophageal perforations were masked by concomitant administration of steroids, thus causing marked delay in diagnosis and treatment. Esophageal rupture should be considered when patients receiving steroids develop unexplained fever with pleural effusion or pneumomediastinum, particularly following instrumentation or forceful retching.

Die chirurgische Therapie der Oesophagusperforation Eine Standortbestimmung anhand von 4 eigenen Fällen und der Literatur

“…Die Ursachen einer Oesophagusperforation sind meist iatrogener Natur [15,17,22,26]. An vorderster Stelle stehen instrumentell bedingte Lä sionen im Rahmen endoskopischer Maßnahmen [8,12,13].…”