Cases of Swallow Syncope Induced by the Activation of Mechanorecepters in the Lower Esophagus.
10.3904/kjim.2005.20.1.68
- Author:
Ki Hoon KANG
1
;
Wook Hyun CHO
;
Myung Chan KIM
;
Hee Jong CHANG
;
Jae Il CHUNG
;
Dong Jun WON
Author Information
1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Adventist Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Swallow syncope;
Mechanoreceptors;
Esophagus
- MeSH:
Bradycardia/etiology;
Deglutition/*physiology;
Esophagus/*innervation;
Humans;
Male;
Mechanoreceptors/*physiology;
Middle Aged;
Syncope/*etiology
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2005;20(1):68-71
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Swallowing is a rare cause of neurally mediated syncope. The mechanism of swallow syncope that contributes to hypotension, bradycardia, or to both is complex. A 59-year-old man had experienced a recurrent loss of consciousness during swallowing of carbonated beverages or sticky foods. Another 59-year-old man had complained of intermittent syncope just after eating foods. These two patients had no significant structural or functional abnormalities in the esophagus or heart. Both cases showed bradycardia when the lower esophagus was stretched by balloon inflation. The activation of mechanoreceptors in the lower esophagus can be regarded as an initiating factor of these cardioinhibitions. The patients were treated with permanent pacemaker implantation and instructed to change eating habits, respectively.
