DOUBLE CARDIA - AN UNUSUAL SEQUELA OF REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS WITH ULCER

We report a patient with acquired "double cardia" (esophagogastric fistula). She was a 76-year-old farmer's widow with severe kyphosis. She presented with postprandial heartburn one month after the initiation of nifedipine and isosorbide dinitrate. Radiologic and endoscopic examinations revealed an esophagogastric fistula, short esophagus with hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagus with reflux esophagitis, and ulcer. This case shows that repeated reflux esophagitis and esophageal ulcer, complicated with short esophagus and hiatal hernia, can predispose to the formation of esophagogastric fistula. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.