[Esophageal rupture with aortic-esophageal fistula due to ingestion of foil packaged drugs].
A 78-year-old man was admitted because of haematemesis. A week before, the patient was admitted for prostate resection. During that admission he ingested an analgesic tablet complete with foil packaging. Since then, he suffered from dysphagia. Endoscopic examination revealed the foil packaging, but during the procedure massive bleeding in the oesophagus occurred. Despite initial haemodynamic stabilisation, fatal bleeding occurred a short while later. Post mortem examination revealed an aortic-oesophageal fistula which was ascribed to the foil packaging. One other oesophageal rupture was thought to be due to the packaging and a third rupture was ascribed to the inserted Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. Ingestion of a foil packaging warrants active medical intervention, as is stated elsewhere in the literature.
van der Voort
P H
PH
Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, locatie Zuid, afd. Intensive Care, Postbus 888, 8901 BR Leeuwarden. medstaf@intensivecare-mcl.nl
van Roon
E N
EN
Grond
A J
AJ
van der Wal
T
T
Jebbink
H J
HJ
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004349:Drug Packaging; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006396:Hematemesis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012421:Rupture; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D000700:Analgesics