Abstract
This is the first case report of esophageal injury caused by Percogesic. A 31-year-old healthy white woman presented with dysphagia and retrosternal pain following the ingestion of a Percogesic tablet. The patient felt the tablet lodge in her mid-esophagus even though she ingested it with a cupful of water and in the upright position. Additional fluid was taken to dislodge the tablet with no success. Past medical history was unremarkable for heartburn, regurgitation, or dysphagia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a well-circumscribed deep ulceration in the mid-esophagus. Hospitalization was required due to persistent dysphagia. Treatment consisted of a three-day regimen of liquid antacid, intravenous ranitidine hydrochloride, and metoclopramide. This case emphasizes that pill entrapment can occur in the esophagus in healthy individuals, even when taken in the upright position with plenty of fluid; and mucosal injury can be produced by drugs not generally reported to cause gastrointestinal adverse effects or mucosal injury.
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