MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS PRESENTING DURING GENERAL-ANESTHESIA FOR ESOPHAGOSCOPY - A CAUTIONARY TALE

We report myasthenia gravis presenting as dysphagia of acute onset in a 56-year-old female who had no other stigmata of the disease and who was generally well despite rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism. Sh e recovered respiratory function following a general anaesthetic for o esophagoscopy only when antimyasthenic treatment was instituted. She r emains well to date. In patients who are known to have autoimmune dise ases and who present with dysphagia, features of myasthenia gravis sho uld be specifically sought.