Frontiers in Neurology (May 2017)

Tracheoesophageal Fistula Caused by Tracheostomy in a Patient with Myasthenia Gravis after a Myasthenic Crisis

  • Chen Jiaxin,
  • Chen Jiaxin,
  • Li Jingjing,
  • Li Jingjing,
  • Zhu Kai,
  • Zhu Kai,
  • Zhou Zhou,
  • Zhou Zhou,
  • Liu Weibin,
  • Liu Weibin,
  • Wang Haiyan,
  • Wang Haiyan,
  • Feng Huiyu,
  • Feng Huiyu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2017.00217
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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A 57-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis (MG), who had experienced a myasthenic crisis, complained of coughing while drinking. At first, this appeared to be a sequela of the myasthenic crisis. However, after further investigation, the problem was identified as a tracheoesophageal fistula, a complication of tracheostomy. Here, we describe this special case in the hope that we can improve diagnostic accuracy by providing a reminder for other physicians to consider the differences between MG and tracheoesophageal fistula. It is very important to pay more attention to such situations in clinical scenarios and administer the most appropriate treatment without delay.

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