Spontaneous Perforation of the Esophagus in a Patient with Achalasia

Esophageal perforation in achalasia is rare. The risk would mainly follow pneumatic dilatation, and spontaneous perforation has not been described. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of the midesophagus in a 56-year-old woman with treated achalasia in whom the perforation occurred during a meal and was not preceded by emesis. A gastrografin swallow confirmed extravasation of contrast medium from the esophagus, and endoscopy revealed significant esophageal food stasis, consistent with achalasia, with a large tear in the midesophagus and gross mediastinal contamination. She subsequently underwent a three-stage esophagectomy with an uneventful recovery. (C) 2013 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons