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Query: UMLS:C0014848 (achalasia)
 2,804 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Compared with classic achalasia, vigorous achalasia has been defined as achalasia with relatively high esophageal contraction amplitudes, often with minimal esophageal dilation and prominent tertiary contractions on radiographs, and with the presence of chest pain. However, no study using current manometric techniques has compared manometric, radiographic, and clinical findings in vigorous and classic achalasia or questioned the usefulness of making this distinction. Fifty-four cases involving patients with achalasia whose radiographic and manometric studies were performed within 6 months of each other were available for review. Patients with vigorous achalasia (n = 17), defined by amplitude greater than or equal to 37 mm Hg, and patients with classic achalasia (n = 37), defined as amplitude less than 37 mm Hg, had substantial overlap in radiographic parameters of esophageal dilation, tortuosity, and tertiary contractions. Manometric properties of repetitive waves and lower esophageal sphincter pressure and clinical aspects of chest pain, dysphagia, heartburn, and satisfactory responses to pneumatic dilation were similar in both forms of achalasia. A separate analysis of patients with mean contraction amplitude greater than 60 mm Hg revealed similar findings. It is concluded that use of amplitude as a criterion for classifying achalasia is arbitrary and of dubious value.
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PMID:Classic and vigorous achalasia: a comparison of manometric, radiographic, and clinical findings. 145 95

In this paper the pharmacodynamic effects of calcium channel blockers (verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem, fendiline, nitrendipine, nimodipine, and nisoldipine) on esophageal motility in man and their clinical effects in patients with various forms of primary esophageal motility disorders are critically analysed and summarized. The evaluation of efficacy and safety is mainly focused on nifedipine (Bay a 1040, Adalat; CAS 21829-25-4), since it has been best documented clinical pharmacologically and therapeutically in this field. Nifedipine and--with varying potency--the other calcium antagonists reduce effectively the increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and abnormally high and prolonged peristaltic and nonperistaltic contractions in the esophageal body in patients with achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), and other disorders which may cause angina-like chest pain and/or dysphagia. Pharmacodynamic effects on esophageal motility are closely correlated with the plasma concentration of nifedipine in healthy volunteers and in patients. However, a final judgement on the therapeutic value of these compounds in esophageal motor abnormalities cannot be given due to conflicting results from clinical studies with fairly small numbers of patients and varying study designs. Among the different calcium antagonists investigated nifedipine represents the best investigated and the most suitable compound for the treatment of primary hypertensive esophageal motor disorders.
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PMID:Clinical efficacy of nifedipine and other calcium antagonists in patients with primary esophageal motor dysfunctions. 193 Mar 46

Clinical and manometric data from 13 elderly subjects with idiopathic achalasia (mean age 79 +/- 2 years) were compared with findings from younger subjects with the same disease (n = 79) to see if aging altered the presentation and outcome of this motor disorder. Fewer elderly subjects complained of chest pain (27% vs 53%), and the pain was significantly less severe (P less than 0.01). Other presenting features (including sex, duration of symptoms, and presence and severity of dysphagia) did not differ between the groups. Across all patients, age weakly and inversely correlated with residual postdeglutitive lower esophageal sphincter; (LES) pressure (R = -0.34), and residual pressure was significantly lower in the older subjects (8.0 +/- 1.3 mm Hg vs. 11.9 +/- 0.8 mm Hg; P = 0.02). No differences in basal LES pressure or esophageal-body contraction amplitudes were present between the groups. Initial success with pneumatic dilation was similar in the two subject groups, but the number of older subjects available for analysis was too small to draw strong conclusions. These results indicate that aging decreases the elevation of LES residual pressure that occurs with achalasia. As elderly achalasia patients also present with less chest pain, the findings may be interrelated.
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PMID:Achalasia in the elderly. Effects of aging on clinical presentation and outcome. 198 68

Calcium channel blockers have been previously shown to decrease lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and improve symptoms in achalasia. We performed a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study to assess the effects of oral nifedipine and verapamil on LES pressure, amplitude of esophageal body contraction, and clinical symptomatology in eight patients with symptomatic achalasia diagnosed by endoscopy, barium swallow, and manometry. Patients were randomized to receive up to 20 mg nifedipine, 160 mg verapamil, or placebo and underwent esophageal manometry before (baseline) and after four weeks on each drug. Diary cards were kept to record and grade symptoms and drug plasma level determinations were correlated with manometric and clinical findings. Both nifedipine and verapamil caused a statistically significant decrease in mean LES pressure, but only nifedipine caused a significant decrease in the amplitude of contractions of the smooth muscle portion of the esophagus. No statistically significant differences in the overall clinical symptomatology were noted with any of the drugs, although some individual improvements in dysphagia and chest pain were noted. We conclude that, despite the reduction in LES pressure and contraction amplitude of the distal esophageal body, oral nifedipine and verapamil do not significantly alter the clinical symptomatology of patients with achalasia.
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PMID:Medical treatment of esophageal achalasia. Double-blind crossover study with oral nifedipine, verapamil, and placebo. 199 57

Clinical and manometric data from 97 consecutive patients with idiopathic achalasia were analyzed to see if a distinct subset with vigorous achalasia could be identified. Statistical analyses failed to detect a unique group of subjects based on the distribution of contraction wave amplitudes alone. Because of this, patients falling above the 95th percentile (N = 4, mean wave amplitude greater than 100 mm Hg for each) were compared with those having mean amplitudes above the conventional threshold for the diagnosis of vigorous achalasia (mean amplitude 60-100 mm Hg, N = 4), and with the remainder (N = 89, mean amplitude less than 60 mm Hg). Subjects with mean amplitudes less than 60 mm Hg and with mean amplitudes 60-100 mm Hg closely resembled each other in all measured clinical features, whereas subjects with mean amplitudes greater than 100 mm Hg were all male, were older (67 +/- 4 years vs 47 +/- 2 years; P less than 0.01), and appeared to have somewhat longer duration of symptoms when compared with the remainder (82 +/- 41 vs 44 +/- 10 months; P = 0.4). Chest pain and other esophageal symptoms, basal and residual lower sphincter pressures, and response to first treatment did not differ among the three groups. These data indicate that high-fidelity manometry techniques identify a rare subset of achalasia patients with mean contraction amplitudes exceeding 100 mm Hg that, although older and possibly with greater duration of symptoms, presents similarly to others with idiopathic achalasia. Outcome from conventional treatment is also similar for the "vigorous" and "nonvigorous" patients, making the distinction of questionable value.
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PMID:Reevaluation of manometric criteria for vigorous achalasia. Is this a distinct clinical disorder? 199 60

The Authors report a review of the data gathered by manometry and pH-metry in the functional esophageal diseases. Manometric and pH-metric patterns of gastro-esophageal reflux, Barrett esophagus, diverticula, achalasia, aspecific motility disorders and non-cardiac chest pain, are analyzed. Data conditioning the choice of surgical treatment in the literature and in the authors' experience are reported in detail.
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PMID:[Esophageal manometry and pH-monitoring for surgical indications]. 206 77

The initial treatment of choice in patients with achalasia is balloon dilation. Heretofore, this procedure was performed on an in-hospital basis resulting in high patient cost. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of pneumatic dilation as an outpatient procedure. Sixty-one procedures were performed on 50 patients at two centers. An overall treatment success rate of 95% (47 of 50 patients) was achieved. Two patients had elective surgical treatment and a third underwent surgery for perforation secondary to dilation. A total of three patients complained of post-procedure chest pain within 4 hours and were hospitalized. Two had perforations; one required surgical repair. The third patient had resolution of symptoms. We conclude that performing balloon dilation as an outpatient procedure is safe, efficacious, and cost effective.
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PMID:Forceful balloon dilation: an outpatient procedure for achalasia. 207 Oct 1

The role of radiologic evaluation of esophageal motility in patients with chest pain has been studied rarely. Consequently, we compared the results of radiologic and manometric examinations of the esophagus in 170 patients (106 women, 64 men; mean age, 53 years) with chest pain. Manometry, used as the standard, was normal in 114 (67%) patients, and showed the following abnormal diagnoses in the remaining 56 (33%): nonspecific esophageal motility disorder in 27 (48%), nutcracker esophagus in 16 (29%), diffuse esophageal spasm in 11 (20%), and achalasia in two (4%). Radiologic specificity was 93% (106/114) and overall sensitivity only 36% (20/56). Sensitivity increased to 50% by excluding those with nutcracker esophagus, a purely manometric diagnosis. Of the 20 patients in whom nonspecific esophageal motility disorder and diffuse esophageal spasm were undetected on radiologic examination, minimal manometric criteria for diagnosis were available in 18. Our results show that radiologic recognition of normal esophageal peristalsis is excellent. However, the vast majority of patients with chest pain do not appear to have abnormal esophageal motility on radiologic evaluation.
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PMID:Radiologic evaluation of esophageal motility: results in 170 patients with chest pain. 212 Sep 68

Forceful dilation of the lower esophageal sphincter is considered primary therapy for achalasia. The Witzel pneumatic balloon dilator, unlike fluoroscopically placed dilators, is placed over a standard gastroscope allowing positioning and dilation under direct vision. We report our experience with the Witzel dilator in 45 patients with achalasia over a 5-year period. All patients had at least one major symptom score of 8 out of 10 for dysphagia and/or regurgitation before dilation. After Witzel dilation, symptomatic response was graded as excellent (score 0 to 2), good (score 3 to 5), fair (score 6 to 8), and poor (no improvement). Symptom response was assessed after 1 week, 1 month, 6 month, 1 year, and present. The mean period of follow-up was 25 months (range, 3 to 85 months). Passage of the balloon across the gastroesophageal junction was technically unsuccessful in three patients. Esophageal perforation occurred in two patients (4%) and transient chest pain greater than 2 days in three patients (7%). There was no bleeding or death. Symptomatic long-term improvement was excellent in 25 patients (63%), good in 6 patients (15%), fair in 4 patients (10%), and poor in 5 patients (12%). A repeat Witzel dilation was performed in five patients but resulted in good/excellent improvement in only one patient. We conclude that pneumatic dilation with the Witzel balloon is a safe, effective procedure for achalasia.
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PMID:Witzel pneumatic dilation for achalasia: safety and long-term efficacy. 189 88

The three main symptoms of esophageal disease or disorder are dysphagia, chest pain, and heartburn. Dysphagia in achalasia is mainly due to a non-relaxing lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The mechanism of dysphagia in diffuse esophageal spasm and related motor disorders is related to a combination of several factors including incomplete LES relaxation, failed or weak peristalsis (pressure less than 30 mmHg in the distal esophagus, and orad positive pressure gradient). Meal manometry and balloon distention may prove to be useful provocation tests. Chest pain of esophageal origin may be due to gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal motility disorders; it may also be a manifestation of an irritable esophagus, in which the esophagus is hypersensitive to various stimuli (chemical, mechanical, ischemic). Esophageal provocation tests may suggest the esophageal origin of the pain but do not give information on the nature of the esophageal disorder. Twenty-four-hour pH and pressure measurements may, however, yield this information. Heartburn and acid regurgitations are the most typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Transient relaxations of the LES are considered to be an important contributory mechanism of reflux. Absent basal LES pressure is another mechanism, which accounts for about one-fourth of the reflux episodes in patients with severe reflux esophagitis. During long-lasting inappropriate relaxations, swallows often produce deglutitive contraction waves that die out in the upper esophagus, suggesting that reflux often occurs during periods of inhibition of both LES tone and peristaltic esophageal activity.
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PMID:Recent studies of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of esophageal symptoms. 223 80


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