Traumatic rupture of gastric pull-up after apparent mild thoracic trauma; case report and literature review

Abstract

While elderly patients account for only 10-12% of all trauma victims, they consume 25% of trauma-related health care resources, with higher rates of mortality and complication. Presently described is the case of an elderly patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) following mild thoracic trauma, with previous history of gastric pull-up surgery. The patient had consulted another facility 48 hours earlier and was prescribed analgesia and x-ray follow-up for a mechanical fall and pain in the lower rib cage. At arrival, the patient complained of increasing dyspnea and pain at the right hemithorax. X-ray showed right hemithorax effusion, and contrast computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a large amount of contrast filling the pleural space and a relatively small point of gastric pull-up rupture in the stomach. The patient was referred to the cardiothoracic unit, but was unresponsive upon arrival and died. The aim of the present report was to raise the index of clinical suspicion of traumatic rupture of the gastric pull-up following traumatic chest injury, and to affirm that contrast CT should be the gold standard for diagnosis.