What Causes Boerhaave’s Syndrome?

Severe Constipation

Severe constipation is a form of bodily strain that can result in Boerhaave's syndrome. Constipation occurs when an internal mechanism or malfunction occurs in an individuals digestion process. In healthy individuals, food moves from their stomach to their small intestine where nutrients are absorbed, and then it moves into the large intestine where the remaining fluid is absorbed before defecation. Constipation occurs when the food remains in an individual's large intestine for too long, and the intestine absorbs too much fluid from it. This over absorption of fluid causes the stools to become very hard and difficult to pass out of the body. Patients who have chronic constipation tend to exhibit intense straining of the abdominal muscles in an effort to remove the stool from their body. This mechanism causes the same type of internal pressure on the esophagus as lifting a heavy object does. Should an individual's esophagogastric sphincter stay in a closed position during this straining, the esophagus can dilate and rupture, causing Boerhaave's syndrome.