Successful treatment of esophageal perforation due to black esophagus (acute esophageal necrosis): a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background Black esophagus, or acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), is a rare disease with a poor prognosis in which the esophageal mucosa is black in color. We report a case of esophageal perforation due to AEN that was successfully treated. Case presentation An 88-year-old woman presented to her local hospital with the chief complaint of abdominal pain. Endoscopic and radiological examinations revealed esophageal perforation due to AEN and duodenal perforation. Omental patch repair was performed for the esophageal perforation, and the duodenal ulcer perforation was treated by simple closure and gastrojejunostomy at the local hospital. Following refractory esophageal and duodenal perforations after the initial surgery, the patient was transferred to our hospital where emergent surgery was performed, comprising thoracoscopic esophagectomy, cervical esophagostomy, T-tube drainage, and omentopexy for duodenal perforation, as well as thoracic and abdominal drainage. Mucosal regeneration of the esophagostomy was confirmed endoscopically on postoperative day 19. Conclusions Appropriate surgical intervention may be an optimal option in patients with esophageal perforation due to AEN.