Abstract
A 57-year-old man admitted for increasing upper abdominal pain 3 days after falling down stairs was found in abdominal radiography and computed tomography (CT) to have a thickened gastric wall and free air in the peritoneal cavity, suggesting traumatic stomach rupture. Non surgical treatment by administering H2-blocker and total parenteral nutrition was chosen because peritonitis was localized and vital signs were stable. Ten days later, the initial diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopy showing a rupture at the lesser curveture of the mid corpus. Intraabdominal abscess formation was complicated and treated successfully by percutaneous drainage. Healing of the perforated site was observed endoscopy and oral intake restarted 12 days after admission. The man was discharged 93 days admission. Traumatic gastric rupture can thus be managed by non surgical treatment in certain situations, although most patients undergo emergency surgery.
