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Query: UMLS:C0011168 (dysphagia)
 15,644 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 54-year-old man presented to the ER with chest pain. He underwent an upper endoscopy revealing a large linear esophageal tear and a CT chest showed free air in the mediastinum. He was managed conservatively and was discharged 2 days later. An UGI series revealed a distal esophageal stricture. He was commenced on esomeprazole for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and his dysphagia improved significantly. Upper endoscopy revealed multiple rings throughout the esophagus. Biopsies from the distal and mid-esophagus were normal. The underlying pathophysiology, in patients with dysphagia and a ringed esophagus has evoked debate in the literature. Opinions range from underlying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to eosinophilic esophagitis (EE). Our patient's symptoms of GERD and dysphagia resolved with proton pump inhibitor therapy. Normal histology excluded underlying EE. There have been a few case reports of esophageal perforation in patients with a ringed esophagus, and underlying EE, but none with spontaneous perforation occurring in a 'ringed esophagus'. Perforations in the upper and mid-esophagus can usually be managed conservatively, while those in the distal esophagus often need surgery due to the high risk of developing mediastinitis. However, our patient, despite sustaining a large tear in the distal esophagus, did well with conservative management. This case demonstrates that spontaneous perforation in the ringed esophagus, with normal underlying histology can occur in the distal esophagus and may not require surgery.
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PMID:Spontaneous perforation in the ringed esophagus. 1633 13

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis is a rare condition of unknown etiology originally described in 1960. It is characterized by multiple, flask-shaped outpouchings of pinhead size in the wall of the esophagus. Very small outpouchings on endoscopy and tiny collections of barium outside of the esophagus wall on esophagography are typical diagnostic findings. During the era of widespread endoscopic and radiological evaluation of esophageal disorders, approximately 200 cases were published in the literature. A 52-year-old man with esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis with food impaction is reported. The patient's symptoms of dysphagia resolved with endoscopic dilations and proton pump inhibitor therapy.
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PMID:Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis with food impaction. 1643 58

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is the retrograde movement of gastric contents (acid and enzymes such as pepsin) into the laryngopharynx leading to symptoms referable to the larynx/hypopharynx. Typical LPR symptoms include dysphonia, globus pharyngeus, mild dysphagia, chronic cough, and nonproductive throat clearing. Most patients are relatively unaware of LPR with only 35% reporting heartburn. LPR has been associated with such disease entities as vocal fold granulomas and laryngospasm and is believed to play a role in the formation of subglottic stenosis. Although not yet substantiated, chronic laryngeal irritation may lead to the formation of laryngeal carcinoma in those patients without a history of alcohol consumption or tobacco smoking. Many issues with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of LPR are considered controversial, including the clinical diagnostic criteria and the studies necessary to establish a diagnosis. LPR, like other forms of extraesophageal manifestations of reflux, is treated with a combination of diet changes, behavior modifications, and a regimen of high-dose, twice-a-day proton pump inhibitors. Allergists, as physicians who treat patients with chronic cough, globus sensation, and atypical asthma not responsive to medications, need to be familiar with the diagnosis and proper treatment of LPR to deliver optimal care to these patients.
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PMID:Laryngopharyngeal reflux. 1659 89

Complete esophageal stenosis secondary to peptic stricture in the upper esophagus is rare. It is, however a serious medical problem that may require otolaryngologic intervention because of life-threatening dysphagia and weight loss. We report the case of an elderly patient who presented with an upper esophageal stricture, without the typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, that progressed to complete esophageal obstruction despite use of proton pump inhibitors and esophageal dilatation. Definitive management of this difficult problem required esophagectomy and gastric pull-up. We discuss the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and multidisciplinary management of peptic esophageal strictures. This case illustrates the difficulty in managing high peptic strictures.
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PMID:Complete esophageal stenosis secondary to peptic stricture in the cervical esophagus: case report. 1661 3

Although significant advancements have been made in the treatment of esophageal cancer, this aggressive malignancy commonly presents as locally advanced disease with a poor prognosis. Despite improvements in the detection of premalignant pathology, newer preventative strategies, and the development of more effective combination therapies, the overall incidence of esophageal carcinomas has risen. A clear association has been established between the development of esophageal cancer and Helicobacter pylori infection, gastroesophageal reflux disease, smoking, and heavy alcohol use. However, the growing number of newly diagnosed esophageal adenocarcinomas, despite widespread treatments with proton pump inhibitors and the eradication of H. pylori, leaves the medical community searching for more answers. There is a potential link between esophageal adenocarcinoma and obesity. Common presenting symptoms of esophageal cancer are dysphagia, odynophagia, and progressive weight loss. The initial assessment for patients with these symptoms is made with double-contrast barium esophagraphy. Treatment modalities include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of modalities. Prevention strategies include smoking and alcohol cessation.
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PMID:Esophageal cancer: a review and update. 1683 35

Classical techniques like videofluoroscopy, stationary manometry and ambulatory 24-hour pH-metry are routinely used in the clinic to study patients with dysphagia, chest pain and reflux-related symptoms. Although many patients can be accurately diagnosed and their therapy successfully guided with these techniques, in many other patients, non-obstructive dysphagia or chest pain cannot be attributed to clear fluoroscopic or manometric abnormalities. Furthermore, ambulatory 24-hour pH-metry often shows a poor association between spontaneous acid reflux events and esophageal or extraesophageal symptoms, particularly in patients 'on' treatment. Non-obstructive dysphagia can be assessed with high-resolution manometry to detect segmental disturbances of peristalsis, increase in pressure gradient across the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) or abnormal axial movement of the LES during esophageal spasm. Impedance evaluation of bolus transit is a non-radiological method that can evaluate the functional relevance of manometric abnormalities. Patients with non-cardiac chest pain that do not respond to proton pump inhibitor therapy can be further assessed with intraluminal high-frequency ultrasound to detect sustained esophageal contractions of the longitudinal muscle layer. Impedance planimetry, with multimodal esophageal stimulation, may contribute to evaluate the sensitivity to mechanical, thermal and chemical stimuli. Finally, patients with persistent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in spite of adequate treatment with proton pump inhibitors may still have weakly acidic reflux and/or bile reflux associated with their symptoms. These types of refluxates can now be detected with combinations of pH-impedance or pH-Bilitec monitoring. This review will describe the available new techniques to evaluate patients with non-obstructive dysphagia, non-cardiac chest pain and persistent gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.
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PMID:New techniques to evaluate esophageal function. 1684 51

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the most common and expensive digestive disease with complex and multi-factorial pathophysiologic mechanisms. Transient inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter is the predominant mechanism in the majority of patients with mild to moderate disease. Hiatal hernias and a reduced lower esophageal sphincter pressure have a significant role in patients with moderate to severe disease. Typical manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease include heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia. Atypical symptoms, such as noncardiac chest pain, pulmonary manifestations of asthma, cough, aspiration pneumonia, or ENT manifestations of globus and laryngitis, can be seen in patients with or without typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Endoscopy and ambulatory pH tests are best to evaluate the anatomic and physiologic impact ofgastroesophageal reflux disease. Complications of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease include peptic strictures and Barrett metaplasia. Barrett esophagus is a major risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, and upper endoscopy with surveillance biopsies is recommended for patients with Barrett esophagus. Medical therapy with anti-secretory agents (H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors) is effective for most patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Surgical fundoplications and endoscopic treatment modalities are mechanical treatment options for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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PMID:Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. 1686 56

Clinical manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, chest pain, cough and other extraesophageal symptoms. GERD is known to cause erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagus and has been linked to the development of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Currently upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the main clinical tool for visualizing esophageal lesions. Since the majority of GERD patients do not have endoscopic visible lesions other methods are required to document the abnormal acid exposure in the distal esophagus. For many clinicians ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring is the gold standard in diagnosing GERD since it quantifies distal esophageal acid exposure and allows the evaluation of the relationship between symptoms and acid reflux. The availability of highly selective gastric acid suppressive therapy led to the introduction of short trials of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) to diagnose GERD. PPI trials are often used as a first line diagnostic tool in clinical practice and in particular in the primary care settings. This development has a major influence in the type of patients referred to gastrointestinal specialists, the current trend being that gastroenterologists are asked to evaluate an increasing number of patients with persistent GERD symptoms while on PPI therapy. In these patients the question is whether the persistent symptoms are or not associated with reflux (acid or non-acid). In the recent years combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH (MII-pH) monitoring has become a clinical tool that permits the clarification of the mechanisms underlying the persistent symptoms on acid suppressive therapy.
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PMID:Update in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease. 1701 49

Feeding refusal is often described in conjunction with the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) in pediatric patients; however, there are little data regarding the specific clinical manifestations and effective management of this condition in very young children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presentation of EE in infants and toddlers referred to the Interdisciplinary Feeding Team Clinic of a tertiary referral center and to document responses to treatment. Database matching was performed (from January 2000 to June 2003) to identify infants and toddlers diagnosed with EE who had been referred to the Interdisciplinary Feeding Team Clinic. Endoscopic features required for a diagnosis of EE included esophageal mucosal furrowing, erythema, exudates, or decreased vascular markings. Histologic features of EE were more than 24 eosinophils per high-power field (HPF), thickening of basal cell layer, and papillary (rete peg) lengthening or elongation. All study patients were treated with a combination of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and fluticasone (swallowed). In addition, elemental diet was instituted in those documented to have a food allergy. Treatment success was defined by an improved oral intake, adequate weight gain, and improved endoscopic and histologic findings at 3-6-month followup. A total of 15 subjects [mean age = 19.9 months (SD = 9.7 months)] who fulfilled the entry criteria during the study period were identified. All 15 children had documented endoscopic improvement and 14/15 children had histologic resolution of EE after therapy. In 13 of the 15 children, this translated to clinical improvement as well.
Dysphagia 2007 Jan
PMID:Eosinophilic esophagitis in infants and toddlers. 1702 45

The effect of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy on extraesophageal or atypical manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of atypical manifestations in patients with acid reflux disease and the effect of PPI treatment. Patients with symptoms and signs suggestive of reflux were enrolled. Erosive esophagitis was stratified using the Los Angeles classification. Demographic data and symptoms were assessed using a questionnaire and included typical symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, odynophagia), and atypical symptoms (e.g., chest pain, sialorrhea, hoarseness, globus sensation, chronic coughing, episodic bronchospasm, hiccup, eructations, laryngitis, and pharyngitis). Symptoms were reassessed after a 3-month course of b.i.d. PPI therapy. A total of 266 patients with a first diagnosis of GERD (erosive, 166; non-erosive, 100) were entered in the study. Presentation with atypical symptoms was approximately equal in those with erosive GERD and with non-erosive GERD, 72% vs 79% (P = 0.18). None of the study variables showed a significant association with the body mass index. PPI therapy resulted in complete symptom resolution in 69% (162/237) of the participants, 12% (28) had improved symptoms, and 20% (47) had minimal or no improvement. We conclude that atypical symptoms are frequent in patients with GERD. A trial of PPI therapy should be considered prior to referring these patients to specialists.
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PMID:Effect of antisecretory therapy on atypical symptoms in gastroesophageal reflux disease. 1721 95


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