title: Oesophageal obstruction due to saccular aneurysm of the distal thoracic aorta.
abstract: The second reported case and first successful treatment of oesophageal obstruction due to a saccular aneurysm of the distal thoracic aorta is described. The patient, a 69-year-old male, presented with severe dysphagia which was thought to be due either to achalasia or a tumour. Operation, however, revealed a large aneurysm at the level of the diaphragmatic hiatus which was compressing the oesophagus against the right crus. As the anatomy of the aneurysm was unknown and there was a significant risk of damage to the spinal arteries the oesophageal obstruction was treated by transposition of the oesophagus combined with an anti-reflux repair. This has given an excellent clinical result and the aneurysm has remained unchanged over a period of eighteen months.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001464:Barium; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001464:Barium