Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011168 (dysphagia)
 15,644 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The value of a "bread-barium" swallow for diagnosis of disordered esophageal motility was examined in 53 patients, 20 of whom complained of dysphagia, 20 retrosternal chest pain, and 13 heartburn; a further 19 subjects served as controls. Esophageal manometry in the patients with dysphagia and chest pain revealed major abnormalities in 14 compared with the bread-barium swallow which showed changes consistent with esophageal spasm in 20. The standard barium swallow examination revealed major abnormalities in only five of these patients. The bread-barium examination is simple, complements the routine barium swallow, and is of value in patients with symptoms suggesting disturbed motility. It does not replace conventional studies for the diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders.
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PMID:Diagnostic value of "bread-barium" swallow in patients with esophageal symptoms. 665

Dysphagia and chest pain are well-described symptoms in subjects with achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), and high-amplitude peristaltic contractions, a subset of nonspecific motor disorders (NEMD). We observed a high incidence of chest pain and dysphagia in a different NEMD subgroup characterized by prolonged peristaltic contractile duration (PPCD) and normal contractile amplitude. We compared the manometric characteristics of patients with PPCD to healthy controls and compared the clinical profile of PPCD patients to that of patients with achalasia, DES, and high-amplitude peristalsis. In 20 patients with PPCD, mean contractile duration was 7.4 +/- 0.3 sec, significantly greater than healthy controls (3.7 +/- 0.1 sec) (P less than 0.001). PPCD was associated with an 85% incidence of chest pain and 65% incidence of dysphagia. These symptoms were similar to those observed in patients with achalasia, DES, and high-amplitude peristalsis. In PPCD patients, chest pain was more frequently of long duration in comparison to achalasia and DES. PPCD was encountered more frequently than either achalasia or DES in patients referred to our laboratory. This study suggests that in symptomatic NEMD patients, abnormal duration of peristaltic contractions, rather than abnormal amplitude, may be a distinguishing manometric feature.
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PMID:Chest pain and dysphagia in patients with prolonged peristaltic contractile duration of the esophagus. 669 53

The radiographic, manometric and endoscopic evaluation of an alcoholic patient with dysphagia, a mid esophageal diverticulum and "corkscrewing" of the distal esophagus is reported. The patient displayed a constant deformity of the distal esophagus which was associated with progressive but abnormally high amplitude peristaltic waves. There was no manometric evidence of esophageal spasm. These findings indicate that manometric evidence of tertiary contractions may be absent in some patients with a corkscrew esophagus and that this abnormal configuration may become fixed.
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PMID:Fixed corkscrew pattern of the esophagus. 677 13

The pathogenesis of dysphagia in achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) is not understood completely, and the primary site of damage in these two entities is not known. This project was undertaken to study the ultrastructural changes present in the muscular wall of the esophagus in eight patients with achalasia and nine patients with DES, compared with seven controls. The ultrastructural alterations in the smooth muscle of all patients were neither pronounced nor consistent. However, nonspecific changes, including filament disarray, mottling of the fiber density in myocytes, thick and long cytoplasmic dense bodies, long dense plaques, and few nexus junctions were seen in both achalasia and DES. In addition, the smooth muscle cells in achalasia exhibited nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions. Statistical analysis of the number of muscle cells per unit area suggested that the gross thickening of the muscular wall of the esophagus in cases of DES is because of hyperplasia and not hypertrophy of muscle cells. A striking change seen in achalasia esophagi and a few cases of DES, as compared to the controls, was the marked loss of small nerve fibers and the paucity of granules in the remaining fibers. This study points to a neurogenic pathogenesis for dysphagia in achalasia with secondary nonspecific changes in the smooth muscle in these two diseases. No nerve abnormalities were noticed in DES.
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PMID:Ultrastructure of the esophageal muscle in achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm. 682 2

The symptoms of chest pain and dysphagia together with the typical radiological features of non-peristaltic segmental oesophageal contractions allowed the diagnosis of diffuse oesophageal spasm to be made in ten patients at The Prince Charles Hospital over the last six years. Eight patients have undergone long oesophageal myotomy with sparing of the lower oesophageal sphincter. All patients had immediate postoperative relief of symptoms, with postoperative cine radiographic examination in all patients demonstrating an inert oesophagus with adequate drainage and no gastro-oesophageal reflux. Two patients subsequently developed progressive dysphagia, one requiring a modified Heller's procedure. Because of the good result in six patients, sparing of the lower oesophageal sphincter with long oesophageal myotomy is recommended.
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PMID:Long oesophageal myotomy for diffuse spasm of the oesophagus. 695 65

Current methods to evaluate patients with esophageal disease include barium swallow with fluoroscopy, which is useful in demonstrating structural defects. Disordered motility is better evaluated with a cine-esophagram. Recent application of radioisotopes has been useful in evaluation of esophageal reflux and the post-treatment of achalasia. Esophageal motility studies may evaluate lower esophageal sphincter and upper esophageal sphincter pressures and the response of the body of the esophagus to series of swallows. Since there is no "gold standard" for the evaluation of reflux esophagitis, some of the tests designed to evaluate reflux and the patient's reaction to acid in the esophagus include the acid infusion test, the standard acid reflux test, the acid clearance test, and 24-hour pH monitoring. Endoscopy with either the flexible or the rigid instrument is important for the diagnosis of obstruction or esophagitis and allows direct visualization of the esophagus. The treatment of reflux esophagitis is discussed. The differential diagnosis of dysphagia may include achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, and mechanical obstruction of the esophagus due to rings, webs, strictures, and benign or malignant tumors. The evaluation of dysphagia should include radiologic as well as endoscopic evaluation. Treatment of obstruction varies according to the nature of the lesion. The Mallory-Weiss syndrome or bleeding from the mucosal tears of the gastroesophageal junction and Boerhaave's syndrome, spontaneous esophageal perforation, are two disorders associated with vomiting. The Mallory-Weiss syndrome usually resolves without specific therapy, but a high index of suspicion is required for patients with chest pain after vomiting, as spontaneous perforation necessitates immediate surgery. Most diverticula need no treatment, but the Zenker diverticulum, if symptomatic, should probably be surgically repaired.
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PMID:Evaluation and management of diseases of the esophagus. 703 70

Sixty-five patients with diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) were investigated by history, radiology, manometry, and endoscopy prior to surgical management. At operation they underwent extended myotomy to the apex of the chest, including the high-pressure zone; in addition, all had hiatal hernia repair. Four types of repair were used: the Belsey procedure, partial fundoplication gastroplasty, total fundoplication gastroplasty, and the Nissen procedure. With the Belsey or the partial fundoplication, there was a high incidence of continued reflux. With the total fundoplication procedure, there was no reflux; however, 6 patients had minor dysphagia and 1 had major dysphagia. With myotomy and a standard Nissen fundoplication, 13 patients were asymptomatic and 2 had minor dysphagia; none had major residual symptoms.
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PMID:Reflux control following myotomy in diffuse esophageal spasm. 711 43

Many previous studies have shown diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) to be an infrequent clinical disorder. Over a 15-month period, 122 patients were evaluated by low-compliance pneumohydrolic esophageal manometry. The patients were referred for obscure undiagnosed chest pain. Diffuse esophageal spasm or its variance was found in 22 patients (18%). All patients had chest pain and 77% had associated solid and liquid food dysphagia. Medical therapy included treatment with a combination of anticholinergic medications, short- and long-acting nitrates, mild sedatives, and dietary adjustments. Follow-up clinical evaluation have been obtained in 73% of patients: medical treatment alone has been successful in impressively relieving symptoms in 10 patients, two have benefited from repeat pneumatic dilatations, and one patient has improved after pneumatic dilatation and subsequent Heller myotomy. A combination of accurate clinical history, endoscopy, barium swallow, and esophageal manometry should allow a reliable diagnosis of DES with a good chance of successful medical therapy.
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PMID:Diffuse esophageal spasm in patients with undiagnosed chest pain. 717 46

The effect of pentagastrin on oesophageal motility was studied in six subjects with idiopathic diffuse oesophageal spasm (IDOS). Pentagastrin was administered by continuous intravenous infusion in doses of 1 microgram/kg/h, 5 micrograms/kg/h, and 10 micrograms/kg/h. Saline infusion was used as a control. No subject experienced pain during pentagastrin infusion. Two developed dysphagia and repetitive contractions with 'wet' swallows during the saline infusion and the lowest pentagastrin infusion. Contraction amplitude was increased only with 'dry' swallows during the 10 micrograms/kg/h infusion period. Contraction duration was increased with both 'wet' and 'dry' swallows during the 1 microgram/kg/h infusions, and with 'dry' swallows during the 10 micrograms/kg/h infusion. Propagation velocity was not altered by pentagastrin. We conclude that gastrin released physiologically by eating probably does not contribute to symptom production in IDOS. Moreover, it seems unlikely that pentagastrin, at least in these doses, can be exploited for diagnostic purposes.
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PMID:Pentagastrin in diffuse oesophageal spasm. 722 56

Diffuse esophageal spasm is an uncommon esophageal motor disorder characterized clinically by chest pain and difficulty swallowing. A case is described in which failure of conventional medical treatment in the face of continued weight loss led to consideration for surgery. The need for surgery was obviated by the successful application of relaxation training, which resulted in a significant reduction in painful esophageal spasms, weight gain, and an improvement in psychological state; there was, however, no change in the underlying esophageal motor disorder. The use of a second coping strategy--double swallowing--had an additional beneficial effect, and clinical improvements were maintained and increased at 6-month follow-up. The rationale and the effects of this method at the physiological level are described. It is suggested that double swallowing is a promising new approach to helping patients cope with disordered esophageal motility and that its more general applicability warrants further study.
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PMID:Biofeedback and self-regulation in the treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm: a single-case study. 726 Jan 87


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