Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0014848 (achalasia)
 2,804 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In a retrospective study the symptoms and results of pneumatic dilatation in achalasia of the oesophagus were analysed in 11 patients (six women) aged 65 years and above (group 1) and compared with 19 younger patients (two women, group 2) over a 48-month period. Weight loss occurred in 91% of group 1 patients and 53% of group 2 patients. Pulmonary complications were commoner in group 1 than in group 2. All patients in group 1 and 84% of patients in group 2 complained of regurgitation. Lower oesophageal sphincter pressures were similar in the groups but the median diameter of the oesophageal body was greater in group 1 patients. The duration of dysphagia before presentation was longer in group 1 (median 5 years; range 1-9 years) compared with group 2 (median 2 years; range 0.5-4 years). None of the six elderly patients receiving pharmacological treatment with nifedipine or nitrates improved while five of the six younger patients treated with medications reported transient improvement. In group 1 only 50% of the pneumatic dilatations resulted in improvement and the median duration of improvement was 12 weeks. These results were significantly worse than those in group 2 where 90% of the dilatations resulted in improvement which lasted for a median duration of 52 weeks. Long-term results were satisfactory in six of the 11 elderly patients and 16 of the 19 younger patients.
 ...
PMID:Achalasia of the oesophagus in elderly patients responds poorly to conservative therapy. 797 72

Although esophageal diverticula have been rarely reported in patients with achalasia, their prevalence and the potential implications of the relationship are not well known. We reviewed the medical records and the manometric and radiographic examinations in 120 patients with achalasia to determine the prevalence of esophageal diverticula and to evaluate their importance in this motility disorder. Esophageal diverticula were found in only 6 (5%) of 120 patients, and all were located in the lower half of the esophagus. Sex distribution and the prevalence of dysphagia and regurgitation, which affected all patients with diverticula and 88% of those with achalasia only, were not different significantly. Patients with esophageal diverticula were significantly older (72 vs. 52 years) than those without diverticula. In 5 of 6 patients with diverticula, mean lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was 44.5 mm Hg compared to 39.1 mm Hg in 86 of 114 patients with achalasia only. Treatment by pneumatic dilatation was done in 4 patients with esophageal diverticula and in 105 patients without diverticula. Five esophageal perforations occurred, all in patients without esophageal diverticula.
 ...
PMID:Achalasia associated with esophageal diverticula. Prevalence and potential implications. 807 23

The aims of this study were to investigate a group of patients with achalasia prospectively to determine (1) the relationship between changes in symptoms and esophageal motor function in response to pneumatic dilation and (2) the effects of the balloon size as well as the frequency and duration of inflation on the outcome of treatment. Fourteen patients with achalasia who were symptomatic for a median duration of 27 months participated in the study. The patients were randomized to one combination of the following pneumatic dilation conditions: a 30- or 35-mm balloon dilator, one or two balloon inflations, and 20, 40, or 60 seconds per balloon inflation. A comprehensive assessment of their symptoms and esophageal motility, transit, and diameter were performed before and 3 months after pneumatic dilation. Pneumatic dilation provided significant relief of dysphagia (P < 0.01), but other symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain) remained unchanged. Pneumatic dilation also caused a significant decrease in lower esophageal sphincter pressure and esophageal diameter and improved esophageal emptying of a solid bolus. Nevertheless, no significant association was detected between changes in the symptom score for dysphagia and changes in objective response measures as a result of pneumatic dilation. Changes in the symptom score for dysphagia or objective responses were similar regardless of the size of the dilator used or the frequency and duration of the balloon inflations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Achalasia: prospective evaluation of relationship between lower esophageal sphincter pressure, esophageal transit, and esophageal diameter and symptoms in response to pneumatic dilation. 823 Dec 71

Although hiatal hernia is reported with a 40-50% frequency in the general population, its occurrence and potential implications in achalasia are less well known. We reviewed the medical records and radiographic examinations of 120 patients with achalasia to assess the prevalence of hiatal hernia and its importance in evaluation and management of this motility disorder. Hiatal hernia was present in only 10 (8.3%) patients. Age, sex distribution, prevalence of dysphagia and regurgitation, and lower esophageal sphincter pressure measured manometrically were not significantly different in patients having hiatal hernia compared to those without hernia. Most patients (88%) underwent pneumatic dilatation and five esophageal perforations occurred, but all in patients without hiatal hernia. In conclusion, hiatal hernia is uncommon in patients with achalasia for reasons not known. Age, sex, symptoms, and results of esophageal manometry were not significantly different in those with hiatal hernia. Finally, the presence of hiatal hernia is not a contraindication to treatment of achalasia by pneumatic dilatation.
 ...
PMID:Achalasia associated with hiatal hernia: prevalence and potential implications. 843 97

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder that is characterized by dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain. The diagnosis is suggested by narrowing with the classic "bird's beak" appearance of the distal esophagus. Esophageal manometry showing aperistalsis confirms the diagnosis. Pseudo-achalasia must be excluded with endoscopy. Pneumatic dilatation is the treatment of choice. Surgical myotomy is reserved for patients in whom repeated pneumatic dilatation fails.
 ...
PMID:Coping with achalasia. 846 81

Swallowing is a complex mechanism that is based on the coordinated interplay of tongue, pharynx, and esophagus. Disturbances of this interplay or disorders of one or several of these components lead to dysphagia, non-cardiac chest pain, or regurgitation. The major esophageal motility disorders include achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, hypercontractile esophagus ("nutcracker esophagus"), and hypocontractile esophagus ("scleroderma esophagus"). Other esophageal diseases such as hypopharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticula or gastroesophageal reflux disease also may be sequelae of primary esophageal motility disorder. Finally, a substantial group of patients referred for evaluation of possible esophageal motor disorders have milder degrees of dysmotility--referred to as nonspecific esophageal motor disorder--that are of unclear clinical significance. Medical treatment of esophageal motility disorders involves the uses of agents that either reduce (anti-cholinergic agents, nitrates, calcium antagonists) or enhance (prokinetic agents) esophageal contractility. Despite the beneficial effect of the various drugs on esophageal motility parameters, the clinical benefit of medical treatment is often disappointing. From clinical and epidemiological studies there is some evidence for a "psychological" component in the pathogenesis or perception of esophageal symptoms. Further understanding of esophageal pathophysiology, as well as development of new receptor selective drugs, might increase our chances of successful treatment of esophageal motility disorders.
 ...
PMID:Medical treatment of esophageal motility disorders. 846 20

History taking is the first step in the evaluation of a patient. An analysis of the information obtained provides the basis for the choice and order of diagnostic tests. In addition, it provides the clinician with the necessary information to determine the relevance of "abnormal tests" to the patient's problem. Dysphagia is a reliable symptom that indicates an abnormality in the swallowing mechanism. The history should contain a detailed description of the symptoms associated with dysphagia from the onset. Especially relevant are questions to determine if dysphagia is experienced every day or intermittently, with solid food or liquids or both, as well as presence and timing of associated symptoms such as, choking, coughing and regurgitation, changes in speech, heartburn and chest pain. It is clinically useful to divide swallowing into three phases: oral, pharyngeal and esophageal. Oral dysphagia is usually due to a neurologic disorder, decreased salivary flow or painful oropharyngeal lesions. Pharyngeal dysphagia is most frequently caused by neuromuscular disorders and less frequently by a Zenker's diverticulum, neoplasm or a mucosal web. Esophageal dysphagia is caused by a structural narrowing, such as produced by a peptic stricture, neoplasm or a Schatzki's ring or by a primary motility abnormality, such as achalasia or diffuse esophageal spasm or by motility abnormalities produced by inflammation caused by gastroesophageal reflux, medication-induced esophageal ulceration or infectious esophagitis.
 ...
PMID:Art and science of history taking in the patient with difficulty swallowing. 846 26

Surgical therapy of choice for achalasia is cardiomyotomy. Alternative procedure is the endoscopic pneumatic dilatation. Compared with the conventional operation, the laparoscopic approach promised to have advantages concerning postoperative convalescence. Between May 94 and October 95 four patients with achalasia underwent a laparoscopic cardiomyotomy. In all patients endoscopic therapy was tried. With the minimal invasive approach a myotomy of the esophagus was only shortly extended on the stomach. All patients had an endoscopic control of extension of the myotomy and intact mucosa during the operation. An antireflux procedure was not performed. Operation time came to 60 to 130 minutes. All patients immediately could swallow without problems and were discharged between day 2 and 8 postoperatively. During the follow-up (up to 18 months) all patients were free of dysphagia and regurgitation. The dynamic x-ray of the esophagus showed a free passage into the stomach. Only one patient claimed mild symptoms of reflux. Cardiomyotomy can very well be performed laparoscopically, leads to good functional results and shows the expected advantages for patients concerning postoperative convalescence. The need for an antireflux procedure is discussed controversially in the literature. It might be unnecessary if the myotomy is only shortly extended to the stomach.
 ...
PMID:[Laparoscopic cardiomyotomy in achalasia]. 867 85

We report a case of oesophageal disease as the first manifestation in a patient with CREST syndrome. A 46-year-old man with achalasia-like syndrome developed CREST syndrome 4 years later. A pneumatic dilatation of the cardia was performed. After pneumatic dilatation the dysphagia and regurgitation disappeared but the patient developed reflux oesophagitis. Four years after diagnosis of oesophageal disease he presented with a clinical picture of CREST syndrome. An acute ileus and constipation developed later. After receiving medical therapy with omeprazole and cisapride the patient is free of oesophageal symptoms and bowel movements are normal. Oesophageal disease is common in patients with limited and diffuse scleroderma, but to our knowledge achalasia-like syndrome has not been previously described as the first manifestation of the systemic disease.
 ...
PMID:Achalasia-like syndrome as the first manifestation in a patient with CREST syndrome. 872 33

The relationship between the diameter of the esophageal body and the clinical profile of the disease and response to treatment was analyzed in 151 patients with idiopathic achalasia by pneumatic dilation of the cardias. Of the 151 patients, 46 presented an esophageal diameter < or = 3 cm (group I), 78 a diameter > 3 cm up to a maximum of 5 cm (group II) and 27 presented a diameter > 5 cm (group III). The result of pneumatic dilatation of the cardias under endoscopic control was analyzed in 117 patients with a minimum follow up of one year after the last dilatation session. Of all the clinical parameters studied, significant statistical differences were only found in group III in respect to the time of symptom evolution and the presence of regurgitation. Manometric data in basal pressure of the esophageal body and in contraction wave width were lower in groups I and III, respectively. The remaining variables were similar in the three groups although group III showed a trend to older age and the frequency of pulmonary complications with lesser thoracic pain and registry of a strict pattern. Endoscopic pneumatic dilation carried out in all the cases was effective in 83% of the patients and was similar in the three study groups. The rate of complications (perforation) was also similar. The therapeutic efficacy of pneumatic dilatation was accompanied by a significant reduction in esophageal diameter. It was concluded that the increase in esophageal diameter in idiopathic achalasia is associated with chronological, clinical and functional parameters which suggest greater disease evolution but do not determine significant changes in the therapeutic response to endoscopic pneumatic dilatation.
 ...
PMID:[The clinical significance of the magnitude of esophageal dilatation in idiopathic achalasia]. 875 63


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>