Lethal esophageal rupture following treatment with Sengstaken–Blakemore Tube in management of variceal bleeding: A 10-year autopsy study

Abstract

We report six cases of lethal esophageal rupture following treatment with Sengstaken–Blakemore (SB) tube in management of acute variceal bleeding. Esophageal rupture is a known complication to SB tube treatment which unfortunately often is a result of iatrogenic misplacement of the tube. Our report indicates that despite additional guidelines to verify correct placement and new promising treatment modalities, lethal esophageal rupture still occurs. For a proper evaluation of potential malpractice cases we find it important for forensic pathologists to have knowledge of procedures and complications to treatment with SB tube.