Boerhaave's syndrome in children: a case report and review of the literature

Boerhaave's syndrome or spontaneous rupture of the esophagus is a rupture of the esophagus after vomiting. It is rare in children, and to date, 26 children have been reported. We present the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with dyspnea after vomiting and subcutaneous emphysema. The diagnosis was confirmed with esophagoscopy. The patient was successfully treated with a repair of the rupture and a fundoplication. We review the literature on Boerhaave's syndrome in children.