Persistent Choking Sensation After Aortic Valve Replacement: A Case Report
Abstract
Abstract Background Postoperative choking sensation is an underrecognized complication following cardiac surgery, potentially arising from airway irritation, reflux, or pharyngeal sensory dysfunction. Case Presentation: We report a 47-year-old female who underwent elective aortic valve replacement via median sternotomy. The postoperative course was initially unremarkable, and she was discharged on rivaroxaban, furosemide, amiodarone, and lansoprazole (the latter initiated postoperatively for suspected reflux). Following surgery, she developed a persistent choking sensation characterized by difficulty swallowing saliva and phlegm, a feeling of losing control over the pharyngolaryngeal region, and a sense of drowning or aspiration without actual coughing episodes. Importantly, she had no true dysphagia for solids or liquids, no voice changes, and no neurologic deficits. The symptoms persisted for approximately four months postoperatively without improvement or worsening. No formal laryngoscopy was performed, and no definitive cause was identified during initial clinical assessment. The patient did not seek medical consultation for these symptoms. Conclusion Persistent choking sensation after cardiac surgery, particularly characterized by impaired secretion management, may be multifactorial. Potential contributors include intubation-related laryngeal injury, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and pharyngeal sensory dysregulation. Clinicians should consider laryngoscopic evaluation in…
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