Successful treatment of a spontaneous esophageal rupture in an elderly patient: a case report.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with severe chest and back pains after vomiting. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed left-sided pneumothorax and pleural effusion. Some food was drained from an inserted chest tube, and we diagnosed spontaneous esophageal rupture (Boerhaave's syndrome). A left thoracotomy was performed 7 hours after the onset of symptoms. A 3-cm perforation was discovered in the lateral wall of the distal esophagus. The perforation was repaired with a primary two-layered closure and covered with pericardial fat. The patient had a good postoperative course and was discharged 1 month after surgery. This case suggests the importance of early surgical treatment, even in elderly patients with spontaneous esophageal rupture.