Abstract

Boerhaave's syndrome is a spontaneous esophageal perforation due to severe nausea and vomiting after hyperphagia or drinking, and it is not due to trauma, medical instrumentation or a foreign body. Untreated esophageal perforation is associated with high mortality, and the traditional treatment has been surgical drainage and primary repair of the perforation. However, non-surgical primary repair with an endoscopic procedure has recently been attempted in some selected patients with a small sized perforation, limited contamination of the mediastinum and no evidence of sepsis. We report here on 2 patients with Boerhaave's syndrome and who were successfully treated via primary repair with endoscopic hemoclips, and we review the other cases of the Boerhaave's syndrome that were treated with a endoscopic procedure. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2009;39: 359-363)

• Keywords: Boerhaave's syndrome, Esophageal perforation, Endoscopic hemoclip