LAUSR

A 19-year-old man was referred to our unit with a 5-year history of dysphagia and food impaction. Upper endoscopy revealed a concentric stricture in the proximal esophagus, which underwent subsequent balloon dilation to 15mm. Strikingly, a well-established mucosal septum was identified below the stricture, forming a double-lumen esophagus (DLE) that partially obstructed the esophagus (▶Fig. 1). Biopsies from the mid and distal esophagus revealed inflammation, and high dose proton pump inhibitors were started. The patient continued to experience dysphagia and intervention was therefore planned (▶Video 1). A gastroscope (GIFHQ290; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) was introduced under general anesthetic. The proximal stricture was balloon dilated to 15mm. Indigo carmine dye was injected into the proximal end of the duplicate lumen to check patency as the dye flowed distally onto the main lumen. An SB-knife (Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was used to divide the septum (ERBE VIO 200D, Endocut I, Effect 1, Duration 3, Interval 3; Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, Tübingen, Germany). The septectomy was performed from the proximal to the distal orifice without complications (▶Fig. 2). The patient’s symptoms drastically improved after the procedure. Further biopsies were taken and confirmed eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and a 6-week course of fluticasone oral slurry was started. After 2 years of follow-up, he remains asymptomatic with no further interventions required (▶Fig. 3). EoE is a chronic immune condition presenting with symptoms of dysphagia or food impaction. Stricture development is the main indication for endoscopic treatment [1]. The DLE is a rare endoscopic finding, previously reported as a complication to nasogastric tube insertion [2] or associated with other uncommon conditions (i. e. esophagitis dissecans superficialis) [3]. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an EoE and DLE association and its successful management by endoscopic septectomy and balloon dilation.