Complete dysphagia after thrombolytic treatment for myocardial infarction

Abstract

An 82 year old man was admitted to hospital with unstable angina pectoris. There was a long history of minor symptoms suggesting reflux disease, with a small diaphragmatic hernia. One day after admission the patient complained of severe chest pain. An acute inferiorposterior myocardial infarction was diagnosed on ECG, and thrombolytic treatment with alteplase (rt-PA) was initiated. Within a few hours total dysphagia occurred, caused by haemorrhagic oesophagitis. The haematoma resolved spontaneously within about 10 days. The patient was discharged three weeks later after full resolution of the dysphagia. (Postgrad Med J 2000;76:795-796)