Endoscopic treatment in a case with extensive spontaneous intramural dissection of the oesophagus

Spontaneous intramural dissection of the oesophagus has been recognized as a separate clinical entity between a transmural oesophageal rupture (Boerha ave syndrome) and an oesophageal mucosal tear (Mallory-Weiss syndrome). It is important to differentiate this condition from myocardiac infarction, di ssecting aneurysm and other acute surgical conditions. Conservative managem ent is usually thought to be adequate, We report a case of spontaneous intr amural oesophageal dissection, in which the symptom of dysphagia did not im prove with the conservative management and an endoscopic incision of the se ptum between true and false lumens using a needle-type diathermy knife was done safely and effectively, Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 10:969-972 (C) 199 8 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.