Minimally invasive endoscopic therapy for the management of Boerhaave's syndrome

TLDR: Using a case series, it is demonstrated how minimally invasive endoscopic therapies can be used successfully to manage such a cohort of patients with Boerhaave’s syndrome.

Abstract: IntroductionBoerhaave’s syndrome represents the most lethal of all gastrointestinal perforations. In 2009 a treatment algorithm was published based on current level 4 evidence indicating that all septic patients should be treated surgically, early presentations without sepsis endoscopically and delayed presentations without sepsis conservatively. No provision was made for septic patients unfit for surgical intervention. Using a case series, we demonstrate how minimally invasive endoscopic therapies can be used successfully to manage such a cohort. MethodsBetween September 2008 and January 2010, five patients presented to Wishaw General Hospital with Boerhaave’s syndrome, all with an associated septic profile and none fit for surgery. They were managed using minimally invasive endoscopic therapies including endoscopic placement of oesophageal stents, elimination of mediastinal/pleural contamination using video assisted thorascopic lavage, management of subsequent collections using sinus tract endoscopy and...