[Non-aneurysmatic aortic dysphagia]

Abstract

Esophageal compression by a vascular structure is a rare cause of dysphagia, the aberrant right subclavian artery being the most common congenital abnormality. Aortica dysphagia is usually observed in the elderly, especially in hypertensive women with cardiopathy and degenerative osteopathy. We report a 73-year-old woman with dysphagia, caused by a non-aneurysmatic aortic elongation, who presented progressive dysphagia, which ended in aphagia associated with heart failure. The diagnostic approach to these patients is discussed. The patient received cinitapride and, following treatment for heart failure, remains asymptomatic after a 3-year follow-up period, although manometric alterations persist.