Recurrent spontaneous esophageal dissection

Chronic esophageal dissection: Delayed diagnosis in a 15-year-old male

Esophageal dissection is a rare condition, characterized by disruption of the submucosa from the muscular layer of the esophageal wall. It is commonly iatrogenic in etiology and patients typically present with acute onset dysphagia, odynophagia, and retrosternal pain. The condition can be diagnosed endoscopically; however, contrast swallow studies either with CT or fluoroscopy carry less risk and are the imaging investigations of choice for this condition. Patients are managed conservatively in the majority of cases. In this case report, we present a case of chronic esophageal dissection in a 15-year-old male who had undergone endoscopic removal of a foreign body from the esophagus several years prior. We discuss the clinical features, radiological diagnosis, and management of this condition.

Intramural esophageal dissection with eosinophilic esophagitis

Intramural esophageal dissection (IED), like esophageal perforation, is a rare complication of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). A 44-year-old woman who had experienced EoE for 8 years complained of food impaction, severe neck pain, and odynophagia as well as consulted the emergency unit. She was diagnosed with IED with mediastinal emphysema by enhanced computed tomography. After admission, she was treated conservatively with noninvasive treatment, including fasting, intravenous feeding, and antibiotics. Only nine cases of IED with EoE have been previously reported. All were male, and our patient was the first female patient from Asia. Urgent endoscopy was conducted in eight cases, of which three were worse after endoscopy, and in one case, total esophagectomy was conducted due to subsequent esophageal perforation. We did not perform urgent endoscopy on our patient because of a potentially increased risk of esophageal perforation through the procedure. When patients with EoE complain of severe retrosternal pain, odynophagia, or dysphagia, IED should be considered in addition to food impaction.

Esophageal perforation in eosinophilic esophagitis: A systematic review on clinical presentation, management and outcomes

There is evidence of an increased fragility in the inflamed esophagus of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We performed a systematic review on presentation, management and outcomes of and surgical interventions for esophageal perforation in these patients, by searching in the MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases. Of the 599 references identified, 41 full-papers and 9 abstract met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 76 esophageal perforation episodes in 70 individual patients aged between 9 and 65 years were reported. 51 patients had not been diagnosed with EoE at the time of perforation; 14 patients had an untreated disease and the remaining were non responsive to therapy. Acute or progressive pain after long-lasting dysphagia and food impaction was the most common symptom leading to diagnosis in 42 patients who presented with Boerhaave syndrome. Pushing impacted food into the stomach led to perforation in 5 cases. Eight episodes appeared after dilation. CT scans demonstrated perforation in 82.4% of patients. Conservative management (including esophageal stenting) was used in 67.1% patients. The 25 remaining patients underwent surgery. Recovery was uneventful in the vast majority of patients. No death was reported. Active inflammation due to undiagnosed or untreated EoE was present in most cases of esophageal perforation. Conservative treatment of perforation should always be considered in EoE.

Management of Patients With Circumferential Intramural Esophageal Dissection

A novel minimally invasive endoscopic drainage technique using a double-tube system improves the feasibility and safety of conservative treatment in spontaneous esophageal intramural dissection (EID). Two patients with spontaneous EID underwent double-tube system placement through esophagogastroduodenoscopy. One tube was inserted into the submucosal layer with continuous suction, and another nasoduodenal tube was simultaneously inserted for enteral nutritional support. Given the ease of placement and the success of this simple double-tube system method, this technique may provide a new, low-risk, and cost-effective treatment modality for patients with EID.

Spontaneous Intramural Esophageal Rupture: An Uncommon Presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis Requiring Endoscopic Clipping

Spontaneous intramural esophageal rupture (SIER) is a form of acute esophageal trauma defined as an injury deeper than a Mallory-Weiss tear but not extending completely through the muscular propria as in Boerhaave syndrome. SIER is a rare complication of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); after extensive literature review, we found 7 case reports of SIER complicating EoE. We present a case of SIER complicating EoE in a 46-year-old man with an atypical presentation requiring endoscopic clipping to achieve successful hemostasis.