Achalasia: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 4: Line 4:


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
*Dysphagia
*[[Dysphagia]]
*Regurgitation
*Regurgitation
*[[Chest pain]]
*[[Chest pain]]
Line 12: Line 12:
*[[Ingested foreign body]]
*[[Ingested foreign body]]
*Esophageal carcinoma - ''dysphagia predominantly for solid foods during initial stages''
*Esophageal carcinoma - ''dysphagia predominantly for solid foods during initial stages''
*Reflux esophagitis - ''dysphagia results from inflammatory swelling or a fibrotic stricture''
*Reflux [[esophagitis]] - ''dysphagia results from inflammatory swelling or a fibrotic stricture''
*Pseudoachalasia - ''underlying malignancy mimics achalasia''
*Pseudoachalasia - ''underlying malignancy mimics achalasia''
*Connective tissue disorders - ''e.g. systemic sclerosis''
*[[Connective tissue disorders]] - ''e.g. [[scleroderma|systemic sclerosis]]''
*Esophageal spasm - ''chest pain a predominant feature''
*Esophageal spasm - ''chest pain a predominant feature''


Line 22: Line 22:
**Birds beak sign  
**Birds beak sign  
[[File:Birds Beak.JPG|thumbnail|Barrium swallow showing birds beak appearance]]
[[File:Birds Beak.JPG|thumbnail|Barrium swallow showing birds beak appearance]]
*Esophageal Manometry
*Esophageal Manometry
[[File:Manometry.jpg|thumbnail|Aperistaltic contractions, increased intraesophageal pressure, and failure of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.]]
[[File:Manometry.jpg|thumbnail|Aperistaltic contractions, increased intraesophageal pressure, and failure of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.]]


==Management==
==Management==
*Trial of antispasmodic for [[Esophageal Spasm]]  
*Trial of antispasmodic for esophageal spasm
**Nifedipine
**[[Nifedipine]]
*Surgical intervention
*Surgical intervention
**Baloon dilatation
**Balloon dilatation
**Botulinum toxin injection <ref>Nassri A, Ramzan Z. Pharmacotherapy for the management of achalasia: Current status, challenges and future directions. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635155/ 2015 Nov 6;6(4):145-55.]</ref>
**Botulinum toxin injection <ref>Nassri A, Ramzan Z. Pharmacotherapy for the management of achalasia: Current status, challenges and future directions. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635155/ 2015 Nov 6;6(4):145-55.]</ref>
**Myomectomy
**Myomectomy

Revision as of 18:10, 29 September 2019

Background

  • Inability of LES to relax and loss of normal peristalsis [1]

Clinical Features

  • Dysphagia
  • Regurgitation
  • Chest pain
    • Esophageal spasm can feel like tight, crushing retrosternal pain similar to ACS

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation

  • Upper GI
    • Esophageal dilatation
    • Birds beak sign
Barrium swallow showing birds beak appearance
  • Esophageal Manometry
Aperistaltic contractions, increased intraesophageal pressure, and failure of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Management

  • Trial of antispasmodic for esophageal spasm
  • Surgical intervention
    • Balloon dilatation
    • Botulinum toxin injection [2]
    • Myomectomy
    • Consider gastrostomy for frail and older patients
  • Patients need to eat upright at all times.
  • Treatment may improve dysphagia, but there is no cure and swallowing never completely normalizes

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Krill JT, Naik RD, Vaezi MF. Clinical management of achalasia: current state of the art. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2016 Apr 4;9:71-82.
  2. Nassri A, Ramzan Z. Pharmacotherapy for the management of achalasia: Current status, challenges and future directions. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Nov 6;6(4):145-55.