[Respiratory failure caused by megaesophagus and tracheomalacia]

We report a case of acute respiratory failure in an 83-year-old woman suffering from a megaoesophagus compressing the posterior tracheal wall. Naso-oesophageal aspiration did not allow tracheal extubation because of associated tracheomalacia. Treatment included tracheostomy and decrease of cardial tonus by administration of botulinic toxin, after weaning from mechanical ventilation.