Left atrial compression with acute heart failure caused by esophageal bolus

We report a case of left atrial extrinsic compression caused by an esophageal food bolus in a patient presenting with acute heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography along with contrast‐enhanced CT showed evidence of esophageal dilation producing left atrial compression. Esophageal endoscopy and fragmentation of the bolus, allowing the accumulated food to descend into the stomach, produced a rapid improvement of hemodynamic and clinical status. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2017

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1002%2Fjcu.22512

Source: Journal of Clinical Ultrasound - June 27, 2017 Category: Radiology Authors: Stefano Maff è, Anna Maria Paino, Paola Paffoni, Luca Bergamasco, Pierfranco Dellavesa, Franco Zenone, Lorenzo Cucchi, Lara Baduena, Nicolò Franchetti Pardo, Umberto Parravicini Tags: Case Report Source Type: research