Background: Boerhaave's syndrome is the most sinister cause of esophageal perforation. The mediastinal contamination with microorganisms, gastric acid, and digestive enzymes results in a mediastinitis that is often fatal if untreated.
Methods: We present a series of 21 patients seen in our unit in the 10 years 1987 to 1996. Esophageal repair was performed in 17 (81%) of them. After the resuscitation of the patient in the intensive care unit, our strategy is primary esophageal repair with a single layer of interrupted absorbable sutures combined with mediastinal toilet, mediastinal drainage, and drainage gastrostomy. The majority of patients (12/21) were referred more than 24 hours after perforation.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 60+/-17 years. The mean stay in the intensive care unit was 1.6+/-1.8 days and the median hospital stay, 14 days. There were three deaths, an overall mortality rate of 14.3%.
Conclusions: When combined with mediastinal toilet, mediastinal drainage, and drainage gastrostomy, primary esophageal repair for Boerhaave's syndrome gives an acceptable mortality and should not be reserved for patients seen within 24 hours after spontaneous rupture.