Causes of a torn esophagus

A rupture of the esophagus can be caused by various factors. It often affects patients who suffer from a disease that damages the mucous membrane of the esophagus. This makes it more susceptible to injury.

Possible causes include excessive alcohol consumption, patients with an eating disorder, frequent vomiting and reflux disease. In reflux disease, stomach contents flow back into the esophagus after eating and while lying down, and extremely irritates the mucous membrane, so that extensive inflammation can occur. The reason for the reflux of gastric acid is usually a limited function of the sphincter muscle between the esophagus and the stomach.

Excessive pressure in the abdominal cavity can also cause the esophagus to tear. This occurs, for example, in cases of strong vomiting or extreme coughing fits. Furthermore, injuries caused by foreign bodies or from outside can also be responsible for a tear in the esophagus.

These can be stab wounds or swallowing a sharp object, which then tears the mucous membrane of the esophagus. The esophagus can also be severely damaged during some medical procedures. An endoscopy is performed to examine the stomach or intestine.

If the oesophagus is thin or the doctor is not handling it properly, the endoscope can cause serious damage to the wall of the oesophagus, especially if it is already in a bad condition. A torn esophagus can also be caused by very strong and frequent vomiting.Vomiting is also the cause of a tear in the esophagus in Boerhaave syndrome. The vomiting can be caused by various factors.

In most cases it occurs after a rich meal or excessive alcohol consumption. Furthermore, patients with an eating disorder in the form of bulimia are also affected. These patients vomit intentionally after eating in order not to gain weight.

When vomiting, a very strong and high pressure is built up in the abdomen. When the patient finally vomits, this intra-abdominal pressure is discharged and the tissue may tear. Particularly pre-damaged mucous membranes, as is the case with bulimia or alcoholics, can quickly become injured because the wall layers are no longer stable enough.

The tear now creates a connection between the esophagus and the chest area. As a result, stomach contents can now flow into the thorax and cause a severe inflammation. This inflammation is called mediastinitis and can result in blood poisoning (sepsis).

Patients must be treated immediately with intensive care and surgery, otherwise they often die from this complication. Finally, the defect in the oesophagus is closed with a surgical procedure, and afterwards the causes of vomiting should also be clarified. Regular to excessive consumption of alcohol can in some cases also lead to chronic alcohol abuse.

This has serious effects on the entire body. The most common consequence is the destruction of the liver, which is called cirrhosis of the liver among medical professionals. This eventually leads to the alcoholic’s liver no longer functioning properly.

Furthermore, patients with excessive alcohol consumption have an increased risk of cancer and other tissue diseases. Especially the mouth, throat and oesophagus area are affected. The constant consumption of alcohol, which is toxic to the body, causes irritation of the mucous membrane.

The mucous membrane is called squamous epithelium and as a result can change considerably, which can promote the development of cancer. In addition, esophagitis is very common, causing severe damage to the mucosa and the underlying wall layers, such as the muscles. This pre-damage also promotes the occurrence of a tear in the esophagus. This causes heavy bleeding and the risk of an inflammation in the chest. The esophageal tear is a life-threatening situation and often the patients affected die from the above-mentioned complications.