Esophageal perforations masked by steroids.

Esophageal perforation is usually an acute, life-threatening event, and its diagnosis can be established on the basis of obvious clinical and radiographic findings. This article describes two cases whereby symptoms of esophageal perforations were masked by concomitant administration of steroids, thus causing marked delay in diagnosis and treatment. Esophageal rupture should be considered when patients receiving steroids develop unexplained fever with pleural effusion or pneumomediastinum, particularly following instrumentation or forceful retching.

Hepatic dysfunction after repeated isoflurane administration.

Isoflurane, a halogenated volatile anesthetic, has not been associated with a distinct hepatic injury syndrome, as has halothane. Previous cases of suspected isoflurane-induced hepatotoxicity have been reported but questioned. We report the case of a patient without previous liver disease who developed repeated episodes of hepatitis after repeated exposures to isoflurane. Although no biopsy study was conducted, the temporal relationships illustrated in this case strengthen the argument for isoflurane-induced hepatotoxicity.