Occult Boerhaave's syndrome without vomiting prior to presentation - Report of a case

Boerhaave's syndrome (spontaneous esophageal perforation) is an uncommon cl inical entity that frequently presents with an antecedent history of marked vomiting followed by chest or abdominal pain. We report a case of spontane ous rupture of the esophagus in 53-year-old male who was referred to our ho spital with a chest discomfort. A chest radiogram revealed pleural effusion and pneumomediastinum. Nine hours after onset, the diagnosis of Boerhaave' s syndrome become evident. She underwent operative repair and, after a prol onged stay, was discharged in relatively good condition 55 days after admis sion. The absence of vomiting prior to presentation is the distinguishing f eature of this particular case. This is the seventh case in the English lit erature to our knowledge.