Identification and management of esophageal and pericardial perforations: A case report.

Abstract

Background: Cases of esophageal, airway, and pericardial perforations caused by chicken bone ingestion are rare worldwide, but their incidence has shown an upward trend in recent years. Injuries caused by chicken bones are often more severe, leading to infections and, in extreme cases, perforation of the common carotid artery, pericardium, trachea, or even the heart, posing life-threatening risks.

Case summary: We present a case of a patient who sustained combined esophageal and pericardial injuries with subsequent pericardial effusion due to chicken bone ingestion. The clinical manifestations included chest pain and widespread ST-segment elevation on electrocardiography.

Conclusion: The patient's symptoms and signs were not entirely consistent with myocardial infarction. Chest computed tomography played a crucial role in clarifying the etiology and provided critical evidence for devising an effective treatment strategy.