Total esophageal food impaction in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: a delayed presentation in a patient with Parkinson's disease

Suha J Jabak; Dima Malak; Anthony Kerbage; Yasser H Shaib; Kassem Barada

doi:10.1016/j.ajg.2022.07.003

Total esophageal food impaction in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: a delayed presentation in a patient with Parkinson's disease

Arab J Gastroenterol. 2022 Aug;23(3):222-224. doi: 10.1016/j.ajg.2022.07.003. Epub 2022 Aug 2.

Authors

Suha J Jabak¹, Dima Malak¹, Anthony Kerbage¹, Yasser H Shaib¹, Kassem Barada²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
² Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: kb02@aub.edu.lb.

Abstract

Total esophageal food impaction is extremely rare. We report a patient with Parkinsonism who presented with total dysphagia to solids and liquids and with inability to swallow her saliva of 3 days duration. She did not present sooner as she was afraid of contracting COVID-19 during hospitalization. Chest CT scan revealed total esophageal food impaction. Awake fiberoptic endotracheal intubation followed by EGD and clearance of the impacted food were performed. This patient illustrates esophageal involvement in Parkinson's disease, delayed presentation with an emergency in the COVID-19 era, and the multidisciplinary approach to minimize the risk of aspiration during endoscopy.

Keywords: Awake fiberoptic endotracheal intubation; COVID-19; Esophageal dysmotility; Parkinson’s disease; Total esophageal food impaction.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / complications
Deglutition Disorders* / etiology
Female
Humans
Pandemics
Parkinson Disease* / complications