[Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus (author's transl)].

During the last 4 years three so-called spontaneous perforations of the oesophagus were treated, twice by surgical intervention 12 anys after the rupture. Two patients survived. The classical history of retching or vomiting and retrosternal splitting pain is indicative, wht medium, amidotrizoate sodium (Gastrografin), from the oesophagus. Prognosis depends decisively on the time of operation after the rupture. Direct suture of the rupture with plastic coverage of the defect by sewing on of the gastric fundus or by plication of the fundus have proved valuable.