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 inferior-posterior 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.