Primary outcome
pulmonary embolism, septic embolic stroke, empyema
PULMONARY EMBOLISM, BOERHAAVE SYNDROME, EMPYEMA

Successful defect closure by EVT, with or without the use of other endoscopic treatment modalities, was 89 % (24/27, 95 %CI 77–100).

Trajectory of successful endoscopic vacuum therapy in a patient with Boerhaave syndrome.
EVT failed in three patients (11 %, 95 %CI 2–29). One patient died due to a septic embolic stroke after 4 days of EVT and another died due to a pulmonary embolism after 14 days of EVT. One patient underwent an esophagectomy because the defect showed no improvement. In this patient, the defect had been enlarged at the second EVT-related endoscopy and it was estimated that the sponge could not cover the defect adequately. Furthermore, in this case, EVT was initiated after considerable delay at the referring hospital, where the patient was treated for empyema, prompting the pursuit of a more vigorous approach.