Kambo is a traditional Amazonian ritual involving the application of Phyllomedusa bicolor frog venom. Its use is gaining popularity as an alternative medicine, for its assumed purgative and therapeutic properties. Kambo can induce severe cardiopulmonary, liver, and neurological complications. A 42‐year‐old man with a history of alternative medicine use and regular cannabis consumption presented to the emergency department with severe chest pain following repeated vomiting in the setting of recent Kambo use. Pulmonary angiogram revealed a major pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium without evidence of pulmonary embolism. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy identified a large lower esophageal perforation leading to the diagnosis of Boerhaave syndrome. Due to signs of advanced mediastinitis, the patient underwent surgical repair with preservation of the esophagus. His postoperative course was complicated by pleural empyema requiring broad spectrum antibiotics as well as surgical exploration and drainage. Despite these complications, long‐term outcome was favorable. This case underscores the need for heightened awareness among clinicians regarding the use of alternative medicines like Kambo and the potentially life‐threatening complications that may arise. Given the rising interest in traditional remedies, healthcare providers should be vigilant about patient disclosures and consider Kambo‐related adverse effects in similar clinical scenarios.
Beguin et al. (2026) studied this question.