
Comprehensive review of acute oesophageal necrosis
Author(s) -
Waqas Ullah,
Asif Mehmood,
Ida Micaily,
Muhammad Taimoor Khan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2018-227967
Subject(s) - medicine , esophagogastroduodenoscopy , pantoprazole , endoscopy , resuscitation , necrosis , gastroenterology , platelet , surgery , omeprazole
Acute oesophageal necrosis, also known as 'black oesophagus', is a rare condition characterised by the black discolouration of the oesophageal mucosa on endoscopy and involves the distal oesophagus in majority of cases but may also extend proximally. A number of conditions are found to be associated with it and it is thought to occur due to a combination of hypovolaemia and inadequate oesophageal protective mucosal barrier function. Gastric secretions may have a direct effect on the oesophageal mucosa. We present a case of a woman who presented with haematemesis and significant hypotension after a session of haemodialysis. Black oesophagus was confirmed on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. She was given two units of packed red blood cells and one unit of platelets, and started on a pantoprazole infusion. However, despite rigorous attempts at resuscitation the patient failed to recover.