Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from Megaesophagus

Case Presentation: Our patient presented in respiratory distress with stridor with the chief complaint of “inhaled a piece of pizza.” Foreign body airway obstruction algorithmic evaluation was followed but revealed megaesophagus compressing the trachea. Discussion: Megaesophagus is a disorder charac...

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Main Authors: Adam Pearl, Abishek Roka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2025-05-01
Series:Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
Online Access:https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8575575q
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author Adam Pearl
Abishek Roka
author_facet Adam Pearl
Abishek Roka
author_sort Adam Pearl
collection DOAJ
description Case Presentation: Our patient presented in respiratory distress with stridor with the chief complaint of “inhaled a piece of pizza.” Foreign body airway obstruction algorithmic evaluation was followed but revealed megaesophagus compressing the trachea. Discussion: Megaesophagus is a disorder characterized by diffuse dilation with decreased peristalsis. It is commonly divided into congenital and acquired etiologies. Most documented cases have been secondary to longstanding achalasia and typically present as heartburn and regurgitation. It is imperative to keep broad differentials and avoid anchoring bias in patient evaluation. This rare case of respiratory distress secondary to a gastrointestinal issue highlights the importance of a broad differential and offers insight into a seldom reported occurrence.
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id doaj-art-103f8360c917449680dd4f4f3d4fa4a9
institution Kabale University
issn 2474-252X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher eScholarship Publishing, University of California
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series Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
spelling doaj-art-103f8360c917449680dd4f4f3d4fa4a92025-08-20T04:02:41ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaClinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine2474-252X2025-05-019334935110.5811/cpcem.35603cpcem-9-349Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from MegaesophagusAdam Pearl0Abishek Roka1HCA Health Care Aventura Hospital, Aventura, FloridaHCA Health Care Aventura Hospital, Aventura, FloridaCase Presentation: Our patient presented in respiratory distress with stridor with the chief complaint of “inhaled a piece of pizza.” Foreign body airway obstruction algorithmic evaluation was followed but revealed megaesophagus compressing the trachea. Discussion: Megaesophagus is a disorder characterized by diffuse dilation with decreased peristalsis. It is commonly divided into congenital and acquired etiologies. Most documented cases have been secondary to longstanding achalasia and typically present as heartburn and regurgitation. It is imperative to keep broad differentials and avoid anchoring bias in patient evaluation. This rare case of respiratory distress secondary to a gastrointestinal issue highlights the importance of a broad differential and offers insight into a seldom reported occurrence.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8575575q
spellingShingle Adam Pearl
Abishek Roka
Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from Megaesophagus
Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
title Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from Megaesophagus
title_full Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from Megaesophagus
title_fullStr Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from Megaesophagus
title_full_unstemmed Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from Megaesophagus
title_short Wrong Tube: Tracheal Obstruction from Megaesophagus
title_sort wrong tube tracheal obstruction from megaesophagus
url https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8575575q
work_keys_str_mv AT adampearl wrongtubetrachealobstructionfrommegaesophagus
AT abishekroka wrongtubetrachealobstructionfrommegaesophagus