Clinics in diagnostic imaging (165)

CASE PRESENTATION

A 33-year-old Indian man with a history of alcohol dependence and prior treatment for bleeding gastro-oesophageal varices had a few seizure episodes while consuming alcohol (based on an eyewitness account). He was brought to the emergency department (ED), where he had an episode of haematemesis, as well as another episode of generalised tonic-clonic seizure shortly after. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain revealed significant intracranial haemorrhage with mass effect, and it was decided that the patient would require emergency craniotomy. Prior to endotracheal intubation to secure the patient’s airway, the patient had another episode of massive haematemesis at the ED, and a Sengstaken-Blakemore (SB) tube was inserted in an attempt to arrest the upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Chest radiographs following the insertion of the SB tube before (Fig. 1a) and after (Fig. 1b) the inflation of the gastric balloon were obtained. Repeat chest radiography was performed following the craniotomy (Fig. 1c).

Fig. 1

Chest radiographs performed following the insertion of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (a) before and (b & c) after the inflation of the gastric balloon.

What do the radiographs show?

IMAGE INTERPRETATION

The initial chest radiograph (Fig. 1a) shows the SB tube, prior to the inflation of the gastric balloon, projected over the mediastinum, with the tip lying below the diaphragm and likely distal to the gastro-oesophageal junction. A chest radiograph obtained after the inflation of the gastric balloon (Fig. 1b) demonstrates a well-defined, round lucency (*) corresponding to the inflated gastric balloon projected over the right hemithorax. Repeat chest radiography performed after emergency craniotomy (Fig. 1c) revealed further lateral displacement of the inflated gastric balloon (*) and kinking of the SB tube, in association with new right-sided hydropneumothorax (arrows).

DIAGNOSIS

Oesophageal rupture secondary to malposition of an SB tube gastric balloon.

CLINICAL COURSE

The SB tube was subsequently removed and a right-sided chest tube was inserted. Approximately 1L of blood was drained from the right pleural cavity. CT of the thorax (Fig. 2) demonstrated communication of the distal oesophageal lumen with the right pleural cavity (arrow), which corresponded with an oesophageal tear and showed the presence of right-sided haemopneumothorax. In view of the known intracranial haemorrhage with mass effect, the patient was deemed to be a high-risk surgical candidate, and repair of the oesophageal mural defect was deferred. A right-sided Cope loop catheter was inserted to passively drain the right pleural cavity. When the patient developed empyema, the Cope loop catheter was replaced under CT guidance with a large-bore chest tube, with the drainage tip of the chest tube positioned close to the site of oesophageal rupture. Subsequently, satisfactory drainage of right-sided empyema and a downward trend of the patient’s inflammatory markers were observed. The patient’s neurological status also stabilised, allowing for transfer from the intensive care unit to the general ward for continued management.

Fig. 2

Axial CT image of the thorax shows a tear of the right lateral wall of the distal oesophagus (arrow), in association with right-sided haemopneumothorax (*).

DISCUSSION

The SB tube has been used as a temporary measure for arresting oesophageal bleeding, with a reported success rate of 43%–84%.(1,2) The use of the SB tube as a therapeutic procedure for the immediate control of bleeding oesophageal varices before definitive shunt surgery has also been validated in several studies, including that of Bauer et al.(2)

Since its introduction in 1950,(3) several reports(1,2) have described SB tube insertion-related complications such as aspiration pneumonia, airway obstruction, pressure necrosis, and oesophageal erosion and rupture. Collectively, such complications have been reported to occur in up to 35% of cases where an SB tube was used to arrest upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.(4) Significant patient mortality arising from these complications has also been reported.(4) While oesophageal rupture, particularly following SB tube insertion, remains a relatively rare complication, it is often lethal.(5) A study by Brinster et al found that a delay in diagnosis and treatment of an oesophageal rupture by more than 24 hours significantly increased the patient mortality rate from 14% to 27%.(6)

Correct placement of an SB tube for the purpose of arresting upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage can be technically challenging.(1) Various methods to aid and determine the correct placement of an SB tube have been described, including insertion of the SB tube to the 50-cm mark before inflation of the gastric balloon,(2) securing the SB tube to a rigid face mask,(7) auscultation to ascertain the intragastric placement of the distal tip,(8) performing chest radiography before and after inflation of the gastric balloon,(9) sonographic assessment(10) and endoscopic placement;(11) the latter two methods require the presence of an experienced operator and the availability of ultrasonographic or endoscopic equipment, which may not always be the case in an emergency setting.

The SB tube comes with deflated oesophageal and gastric balloons, and two aspiration ports (Fig. 3). Prior to the inflation of the gastric balloon, the SB tube should be seen (on chest radiograph) descending centrally along the expected course of the thoracic oesophagus, with the distal tip well below the level of the diaphragm (Fig. 4). Following inflation, a well-defined, round lucency corresponding to the gastric balloon should be visualised below the diaphragm and over the expected location of the proximal stomach (Fig. 5). The radiological finding of a new lucency projected over the thoracic cavity following inflation of the SB tube gastric balloon has been described as being compatible with malposition of the gastric balloon.(8,12,13) Radiological signs highly suspicious for associated oesophageal rupture include interval increase or appearance of unilateral pleural effusion, interval development of pneumothorax, or a combination of both.(6,14)

Fig. 3

Photograph shows a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.

Fig. 4

Chest radiograph shows a correctly positioned Sengstaken-Blakemore tube prior to the inflation of the gastric balloon and the expected level of the gastroesophageal junction (*). The tip is seen well below the level of the diaphragm (broken line). AP: anteroposterior

Fig. 5

Chest radiograph shows a correctly positioned Sengstaken-Blakemore tube following the inflation of the gastric balloon (*). A well-defined, round lucency is seen below the level of the diaphragm.

Awareness of the potential complications arising from the insertion of an SB tube for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and early recognition of the imaging features of an incorrectly positioned SB tube gastric balloon and an oesophageal rupture will enable both the referring clinician and reporting radiologist to carry out prompt interventions, which may lead to lower patient morbidity and mortality.