Acute chest pain and esophageal mucosal injury following an extreme yoga position Case report

Ann Ital Chir. 2019 Sep 30:8:S2239253X19030573.

Abstract

A young lady complained of the sudden onset of intense chest pain, in consequence of an extreme hyperextension of the back in a yoga position. At endoscopy a large lesion of the esophageal epithelium was detected, involving the middle third of the anterior wall of the esophagus. Other symptoms reported by the patient were dysphagia and odynophagia, depicting the typical features of intramural hematoma, also known as intramural dissection or intramural perforation of the oesophagus. The patient was managed conservatively and symptoms disappeared within a week. A barium swallow at six months reported normal findings. Different types of accidents occurring during yoga practice are reported in the literature, mainly involving musculoskeletal or nervous systems. Visceral lesions are exceptional and no similar cases have been reported in the literature. KEYWORDS: Acute chest pain, Esophageal lesion, Intramural hematoma, Management of esophageal lesion.

Una giovane donna, dopo aver assunto una posizione di estrema iperestensione durante lo yoga, lamentava l’insorgenza improvvisa di un intenso dolore toracico. Un esame endoscopico rilevava una grande lesione dell’epitelio esofageo, che coinvoinvolgeva il terzo medio della parete anteriore dell’esofago, giungendo in prossimità del cardias. Altri sintomi segnalati dalla paziente erano disfagia e odinofagia, raffiguranti le caratteristiche tipiche dell’ematoma intramurale, noto anche come dissezione intramurale dell’esofago. La paziente è stata gestita in modo conservativo e i sintomi sono scomparsi entro una settimana. Una Rx esofageo con bario a sei mesi ha riportato risultati normali. In letteratura sono stati riportati diversi tipi di incidenti che si verificano durante la pratica dello yoga, coinvolgendo principalmente i sistemi muscoloscheletrico o nevosi. Le lesioni viscerali sono eccezionali e non sono stati riportati casi simili in letteratura.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Pain / etiology*
  • Aortic Diseases / etiology*
  • Chest Pain / etiology*
  • Esophageal Mucosa / injuries*
  • Exercise Movement Techniques / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Hematoma / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Yoga*