Achalasia of the Esophagus Complicated by Varices and Massive Hemorrhage

Abstract

MASSIVE and life-threatening hemorrhage from the esophagus was encountered in two patients with achalasia. Since bleeding of major clinical proportions has rarely been mentioned as a complication of this disease, the case reports are presented together with a discusson of management and a hypothesis for the cause of the esophageal varices found in both cases.Case ReportsCase 1. A 59-year-old man was hospitalized in July, 1965, because of profuse regurgitation of blood. A diagnosis of achalasia of the esophagus had been made 30 years previously by x-ray examination. Aside from a series of dilatations with Hurst bougies in 1938, . . .