Heparin therapy for mistaken cardiac diagnosis in Boerhaave's syndrome

Indian J Gastroenterol. 2004 Mar-Apr;23(2):72-3.

Abstract

We describe two patients with Boerhaave's syndrome who presented with chest pain mimicking cardiac pain and received heparin therapy. One patient developed large intramural esophageal hematoma as a complication of heparin therapy. The other patient had no hematoma and his course was dominated by esophageal rupture. Both were managed conservatively.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Esophageal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / chemically induced*
  • Heparin / adverse effects*
  • Heparin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / diagnosis
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Heparin