Harding Jane, Dioszeghy Csaba
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Surrey, UK.
Int J Emerg Med. 2025 Jul 31;18(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s12245-025-00908-1.
Sudden collapse and fluctuating consciousness in elderly patients has a broad differential diagnosis, yet timely diagnosis can be critical for appropriate management. This case report underscores the importance of considering uncommon etiologies in patients presenting with such nonspecific symptoms.
An 82-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department following a collapse at home and reduced conscious level associated with episodes of respiratory arrest. Computed Tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography revealed a significantly dilated oesophagus with tracheal compression. Following successful intubation and identification of the dilated oesophagus with tracheal compression, the patient’s condition stabilized and she was later successfully extubated and discharged from hospital.
This report adds to the literature on uncommon causes of acute respiratory distress and emphasises the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis when evaluating elderly patients presenting with sudden collapse and respiratory symptoms.
老年患者突发意识丧失和意识波动有广泛的鉴别诊断，但及时诊断对于恰当治疗至关重要。本病例报告强调了在出现此类非特异性症状的患者中考虑罕见病因的重要性。
一名82岁女性在家中晕倒后意识水平下降，并伴有呼吸骤停发作，随后被送往急诊科。计算机断层扫描（CT）肺动脉造影显示食管明显扩张并压迫气管。成功插管并确定食管扩张伴气管受压后，患者病情稳定，随后成功拔管并出院。
本报告补充了关于急性呼吸窘迫罕见病因的文献，并强调在评估出现突发意识丧失和呼吸症状的老年患者时，保持广泛鉴别诊断的重要性。
