Food embolus

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences Vol. 149; no. 2; pp. 185 - 190
• Main Authors: Reynolds, P, Walker, F.O, Eades, J, Smith, J.D, Lantz, P.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 01-08-1997; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cause of Death; Cerebrovascular Disorders - etiology; Embolism - etiology; Esophagoatrial fistula; Esophagus - pathology; Fatal Outcome; Fistula - complications; Food; Food emboli; Heart Atria - pathology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Myocardium - pathology; Neurology; Stroke; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Food emboli; Esophagoatrial fistula; Stroke; Human; Nervous system diseases; Esophageal disease; Etiopathogenesis; Cerebral embolism; Cardiovascular disease; Male; Fistula; Left atrium; Cerebral disorder; Esophagus; Vascular disease; Case study; Heart disease; Central nervous system disease; Digestive diseases; Elderly; Cerebrovascular disease; Food
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-510X(97)05373-2

A 74 year old man with chronic dysphagia acutely developed nausea, vomiting and fever, followed by abrupt, fatal brainstem stroke. Autopsy revealed an esophagoatrial fistula with multiple food emboli to visceral and cerebral arteries. Review of previous cases indicates that new onset atrial fibrillation or pericardial effusion in patients with chronic esophageal symptoms may herald fistula formation. Early recognition of such fistulas may provide an opportunity to intervene before catastrophic embolization or gastrointestinal hemorrhaging occurs.