Necrotizing esophagitis by stress-cardiomyopathy with right ventricular insufficiency

Acute necrotizing esophagitis ("black esophagus") is defined as complete necrosis of the esophageal mucosa, which typically affects the entire circumference. We report a case of a healthy 62-year-old woman, who became hemodynamically unstable due to stress cardiomyopathy with acute right heart failure. Transfusion-dependent anemia occurred 24& x202f;h later and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a black discoloured mucosa of the distal esophagus. After hemodynamic stabilization and treatment with proton pump inhibitors and sucralfate, complete healing of the esophageal mucosa was achieved.