Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus

Abstract

Two cases of spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus are described, one of which was a rare middle third tear.The possible aetiological factors are reviewed and the problems of diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Spontaneous mid-oesophageal rupture

“…Less frequently, rupture may occur in the cervical (Russell, 1953), abdominal (Barrett, 1946), and middle third of the organ (Fitz, 1877). Since the first description of spontaneous middle third rupture by Fitz in 1877, only eight further cases have appeared in the literature (Moynihan, 1954;Wachtel and Gengins, 1955;Ross, 1961;Hamilton, 1967;Tidman and John, 1967;O'Leary, Hennessy and Brady, 1975 contrast radiography of the oesophagus. Lipiodol was seen to extravasate posteriorly from the mid oesophagus just below the aortic arch on the left (Fig.…”