Reversible atrial fibrillation secondary to a mega-oesophagus.
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and it increases in prevalence with advancing age to about 5% in people older than 65 years.


METHODS
We present a rare case of atrial fibrillation secondary to a mega-oesophagus occurring in an 84-year-old Caucasian woman. The patient had a history of progressive dysphagia and the accumulation of food debris lead to mega-oesophagus.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis was made by barium swallow and electrocardiogram; evacuations of 300 ml of the food debris lead to complete resolution of the arrhythmia. The possible aetiology leading to this AF is discussed.
Upile
Tahwinder
T
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Head & Neck Unit, University College London Hospitals, London, UK. mrtupile@yahoo.com
Jerjes
Waseem
W
El Maaytah
Mohammed
M
Singh
Sandeep
S
Hopper
Colin
C
Mahil
Jaspal
J