Pulmonary Complications of Cardiospasm

Abstract

THE association of cardiospasm and respiratory symptoms has been recognized since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Not until relatively recent years, however, has attention been directed to the relation between cardiospasm and a variety of pulmonary diseases ranging from lung abscess to pulmonary fibrosis. Massive or repeated aspiration of the contents of a dilated, food-filled esophagus frequently causes significant pulmonary complications. It is the purpose of the present report to emphasize this relation and to stress the value of prompt recognition and treatment of the underlying cardiospasm in order to prevent serious pulmonary disease. To date 46 case reports . . .