Esophageal perforation after tracheal intubation, spontaneous or iatrogenic?--a case report.

Esophageal perforation is a rare but life-threatening complication associated with tracheal intubation, especially after difficult intubation. Esophageal perforation after anesthesia is rare and usually secondary to esophageal instrumentation. Spontaneous esophageal perforation following forceful vomiting (Boerhaave's syndrome) is also extremely rare and has some risk factors. We present a case of perforation of esophagus after cataract surgery under general anesthesia with gentle orotracheal intubation and discuss the possible mechanisms responsible for this unusual disease entity. The patient underwent successful surgical repair and was still alive 4 years after the operation.