Transient complete esophageal obstruction after pneumatic dilation of the lower esophageal sphincter for achalasia

We report this case to draw to the attention of others another, albeit unusual, cause of dysphagia in patients with esophageal endoprosthesis in situ. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia in this group of patients, particularly if the dysphagia is unexplained or occurs after the endoprosthesis has been in situ for some months as in this case. Keymed, the manufacturer of the Atkinson tube, stated they were aware of only one other instance of this type of structural fatigue in the 9 years that this product has been on the market, but to our knowledge this has not been reported in the literature. Structural endoprosthesis fatigue has been de-