Key result
An ascending aorta aneurysm causing esophageal stenosis was identified as the underlying cause of swallow syncope in an elderly patient, mimicking postprandial hypotension.
Ascending aorta aneurysm should be considered in the differential diagnosis of swallow syncope in elderly patients to distinguish it from postprandial hypotension.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant aortic imaging in unexplained swallow syncope to avoid misdiagnosis as postprandial hypotension; hypothesis-generating and requires confirmation.
Swallow syncope is usually caused by organic or functional disorders of the esophagus due to abnormal vasovagal reflex. In elderly patients this situation could be confused with postprandial hypotension. We present a case of an elderly patient who presented with swallow syncope that was caused by a waist in the midportion of esophagus induced by an ascending aorta aneurysm.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Patsilinakos et al. (2007) studied this question. An ascending aorta aneurysm causing esophageal stenosis was identified as the underlying cause of swallow syncope in an elderly patient, mimicking postprandial hypotension.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: