[Acute complications caused by a mucilaginous laxative].

Prescription of so inoffensive-seeming and common a treatment as mucilaginous laxative may have major (if rare) side effects, such as sudden esophageal obstruction. This usually occurs in old people who do not take enough water with the laxative and who may have minor esophageal pathology such as motility disorders or epibronchic diverticulum. The usually typical symptoms are sudden onset, with retrosternal pain, dysphagia or total aphagia, alimentary vomiting and pseudohypersialorrhea. Diagnosis is always by radiography and endoscopy. Radiography must be performed with gastrografin, due to the risk of bronchoaspiration or esophageal fissure. Endoscopy may demonstrate the mucilagenous mass responsible for the obstruction and in most cases restore patency of the esophagus. This technique should always be attempted, if necessary several times, before resorting to surgery. The authors stress that in patients with a risk of esophageal obstruction, such as old people with esophageal disorders, it is essential to explain clearly to the patient that the laxative must be taken with a sufficient quantity of liquid.