Introduction: Intramural esophageal hematomas (IEH) are a rare cause of esophageal injury. Precipitating factors of IEH usually include vomiting, straining, iatrogenic causes, and bleeding disorders. We present an unusual case of IEH in a patient who was taking a combination of antiplatelet medications and bisphosphonates. A 78-year-old woman with a history of coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass grafts, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and osteoporosis presented to the ER with burning, retrosternal chest pain and hematemesis which started that morning. Her daily medications included aspirin, clopidogrel, and alendronate. On examination, the patient was hemodynamically stable with a large emesis basin filled with blood. An emergent EGD revealed a raised blue/purple area along the anterior wall of the esophagus, concerning for esophageal hematoma, along with a V-shaped mucosal defect at 23 cm from the incisors oozing blood. An esophagram and CT chest did not reveal signs of esophageal perforation or pneumomediastinum. The patient did well throughout her hospital course and was discharged without any further complications. IEH is defined as a dissection of the esophageal submucosa. It is part of a spectrum of esophageal injuries ranging from local mucosal tears to transmural esophageal rupture. Classic symptoms of IEH include chest pain, dysphagia, and hematemesis. Spontaneous IEH (SIEH) is more likely to occur in patients with bleeding disorders and those on anticoagulation. The cause of our patient’s IEH was probably her two antiplatelet medications and alendronate, which has been known to rarely cause esophageal rupture. On esophagram and CT scan, IEH may appear as abnormal intraluminal/intramural defects. EGD may reveal friable mucosa with a bluish longitudinal hematoma, with or without a mucosal break, similar to what was found in our patient. SIEHs usually resolve within three weeks with conservative management, which explains our patient’s uneventful hospital course and discharge. This case is unique as to our knowledge, it is the first in the literature where a SIEH was associated with a combination of two antiplatelet agents and a bisphosphonate.Figure 1: Esophageal hematoma.
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