Acute airway obstruction secondary to achalasia mega-oesophagus.
Acute airway obstruction is a very rare presentation of achalasia. We report the case of a 78-year-old woman with previously undiagnosed achalasia who presented with acute respiratory distress and stridor due to tracheal compression by mega-oesophagus. Anaesthetists and physicians caring for patients with achalasia must be aware of the need for emergency oesophageal decompression in this rare and life-threatening condition.
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School of Medicine, James Cook University, Department of Gastroenterology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Whiting
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D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome