PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Waqas Ullah
AU  - Hafez Mohammad Ammar Abdullah
AU  - Abdul Rauf
AU  - Kaiser Saleem
TI  - Acute oesophageal necrosis: a rare but potentially fatal association of cocaine use
AID  - 10.1136/bcr-2018-225197
DP  - 2018 Jul 19
TA  - BMJ Case Reports
PG  - bcr-2018-225197
VI  - 2018
4099  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2018/bcr-2018-225197.short
4100  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2018/bcr-2018-225197.full
AB  - Acute oesophageal necrosis (AON), also known as ‘black oesophagus’, is a rare condition characterised by the necrosis of the oesophagus usually involving the distal part. It has been associated with various conditions, and the pathogenesis is thought to involve hypovolaemia combined with decreased function of oesophageal protective mucosal barriers and may be compounded by the effect of gastric secretions on oesophageal mucosa. The hallmark of this condition is characteristic circumferential black discolouration of the distal oesophagus that may extend proximally. We present a case of a man who presented with haematemesis associated with cocaine abuse. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy confirmed black oesophagus. The patient was managed with intravenous fluids, packed red blood cell transfusions, proton pump inhibitors and sucralfate suspension; however, he failed to recover. We have also reviewed the previous reported cases of AON in association with cocaine use.