Cases of swallow syncope induced by the activation of mechanorecepters in the lower esophagus.
Swallowing is a rare cause of neurally mediated syncope. The mechanism of swallow syncope that contributes to hypotension, bradycardia, or to both is complex. A 59-year-old man had experienced a recurrent loss of consciousness during swallowing of carbonated beverages or sticky foods. Another 59-year-old man had complained of intermittent syncope just after eating foods. These two patients had no significant structural or functional abnormalities in the esophagus or heart. Both cases showed bradycardia when the lower esophagus was stretched by balloon inflation. The activation of mechanoreceptors in the lower esophagus can be regarded as an initiating factor of these cardioinhibitions. The patients were treated with permanent pacemaker implantation and instructed to change eating habits, respectively.
Kang
Ki Hoon
KH
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Adventist Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Cho
Wook Hyun
WH
Kim
Myung Chan
MC
Chang
Hee Jong
HJ
Chung
Jae Il
JI
Won
Dong Jun
DJ
D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology*