KIMS Kondapur doctors save patient with rare case of Boerhaave Syndrome

HYDERABAD: If you vomit right after lunch or dinner, don't ignore it; it can sometimes be fatal. A rare case of Boerhaave Syndrome was saved by providing proper treatment at the right time at KIMS Hospital in Kondapur. Anil, a 30-year-old man, was rushed to KIMS Hospital in Kondapur after complaining of vomiting for four hours after eating dinner.

He was examined by Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon Dr Naveen Kumar and was diagnosed with Boerhaave Syndrome.The patient was experiencing severe pain on the left side of his chest and was unable to breathe.

He was examined, and it was discovered that he had a food pipe rupture, with food and meat particles in his chest cavity. Dr. Naveen Kumar and Dr. Madhulika of the surgical gastroenterology team performed an emergency thoracolaparoscopic repair of the oesophagus (food pipe), which is a technically demanding procedure.

There was a 4 cm tear in the food pipe with food and meat particles in the chest during the surgery. It took nearly two hours just to wash the food particles out of the chest. The patient recovered quickly and was discharged after 8 days and also started taking a normal diet within a few days of his surgery.

He was able to recover so quickly because of the timely surgical procedure using a minimally invasive procedure.

What is Boerhaave Syndrome?

Boerhaave Syndrome is a condition in which severe vomiting causes oesophageal damage (food pipe). This disorder is extremely rare and potentially fatal. Food items enter the chest cavity as a result of food pipe injury in this syndrome. If they are not treated promptly, 30 to 50% of people die. Several people may require multiple surgeries, weeks to months of ICU/hospital stay, and ventilator support. A serious infection may necessitate the removal of the food pipe as well.