[Esophageal obstruction after laxative administration]

Esophageal obstruction caused by food or foreign bodies is not uncommon in elderly patients. The esophageal obstruction is rarely caused by bulk laxatives, even though they are regularly prescribed to elderly patients. We report a case of a 69-year-old woman presenting as an emergency complaining of retrosternal discomfort and the inability to swallow or drink. Directly before contracting the problem, she had taken two teaspoons of Colosan mite, a laxative containing sterculia. We performed a rigid esophagoscopy, which revealed a complete obstruction by a gum like substance in the area of the upper esophagus sphincter. The laxative could be removed and the patient recovered without problems.