Reversible atrial fibrillation secondary to a mega-oesophagus

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and it increases in prevalence with advancing age to about 5% in people older than 65 years. CASE PRESENTATION We present a rare case of atrial fibrillation secondary to a mega-oesophagus occurring in an 84-year-old Caucasian woman. The patient had a history of progressive dysphagia and the accumulation of food debris lead to mega-oesophagus. CONCLUSION The diagnosis was made by barium swallow and electrocardiogram; evacuations of 300 ml of the food debris lead to complete resolution of the arrhythmia. The possible aetiology leading to this AF is discussed.