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

Twenty patients with cervical esophageal dysphagia were treated by cricopharyngeal myotomy. Of these 20 patients, ten had pharyngoesophageal diverticula, four had a hypertensive upper esophageal sphincter (UES), four had bulbar palsy, and two has miscellaneous forms of cricopharyngeal dysfunction. Preoperative esophageal manometric examination revealed mean UES pressures of 37.2 mmHg +/- 4.8 SEM in patients with diverticula-markedly lower (p = 0.01) than in normal patients (55.9 mmHg +/- 5.0 SEM). In patients with hypertensive UES the mean pressure was 166.2 mmHg +/- 13.4, significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than normal. Incoordination of the deglutitive response of the UES characterised by premature relaxation and contraction was present in all patients with diverticula and in one other patient. Another patient exhibited incomplete sphincteric relaxation (achalasia). A 4-5 cm myotomy of the cricopharyngeus muscle and adjacent esophageal muscle was performed in all patients. On the patients with diverticula two also had diverticulectomy. No patient with bulbar palsy was benefited. All other patients were relieved of dysphagia by the operation, with the exception of one patient with a diverticulum. A subsequent diverticulectomy was required in this patient. Postoperative manometric examination revealed an average decrease in UES pressure of 63% and an average decreased in length of the high pressure zone of 1.4 cm.
Ann Surg 1981 Sep
PMID:Cervical esophageal dysphagia: indications for and results of cricopharyngeal myotomy. 679 98

Esophageal manometric study has gained tremendous popularity over the past decade. However, the contribution of this diagnostic technology has not been critically evaluated. The purpose of this report is, therefore, to determine how frequently esophageal manometry alters the clinical diagnosis and treatment and to assess the cost of new information. The patients reviewed in this report consisted of 363 consecutive referrals. Each completed a questionnaire, had an esophagogram, and underwent an esophageal manometric study for the evaluation of dysphagia, heartburn, and/or chest pain of unexplained etiology. To determine the clinical contribution of manometry, diagnoses before and after the study were compared. On the basis of symptoms and radiologic data, specific clinical entities were diagnosed in 36 patients. Manometric study did not confirm the diagnosis of achalasia in four of the 27 patients referred with this diagnosis and resulted in 19 additional specific diagnoses. Manometry changed the course of treatment in 14 cases, eight additional patients with achalasia received treatment, and four false-positive patients were spared inappropriate treatment. Moreover, two patients with simultaneous esophageal motor disorder and chest pain were spared further investigation. It is concluded that esophageal manometry altered the clinical diagnosis in 6% and changed the course of treatment in 4% of the population studied. Esophageal manometry is beneficial in patients with chest pain, dysphagia, and those in whom diagnosis of achalasia is suspected, but is of little benefit in patients with chronic heartburn. Assuming the cost per study to be +250, the cost of the study was +3945 per alteration of diagnosis and +6482 per alteration of treatment.
Dig Dis Sci 1982 Sep
PMID:Esophageal manometry: a benefit and cost analysis. 680 34

While Heller's myotomy has become the accepted operation for achalasia, still, there is no agreement about the indications for and choice of complementary procedures to minimize subsequent acid esophageal reflux. In the instances described in this investigation Heller's operation was accompanied by proximal gastric, or highly selective, vagotomy and anterior fundoplication. Dysphagia was abolished and normal alimentation restored in all but one patient, who was elderly and had an advanced megaesophagus. In every patient after the operation, results of pH-manometry, acid reflux tests and endoscopy demonstrated the absence of both acid reflux and esophagitis.
Surg Gynecol Obstet 1982 Sep
PMID:Proximal gastric vagotomy and anterior fundoplication as complementary procedures to Heller's operation for achalasia. 711 62

Twenty-two patients with a history of between one and four (average of two) unsuccessful prior esophageal operations for neuromotor dysfunction were treated with esophageal resection and replacement. Eleven (50%) had recurred reflux esophagitis in association with various disorders of motility: esophageal spasm in 4, achalasia in 3, scleroderma in 2, and esophageal atresia in 2. Eight (36%) had primary esophageal spasm and 3 (14%) had achalasia. Esophageal obstruction, regurgitation, and severe spasm were the most common manifestations of the inability to swallow normally. Transthoracic or transhiatal (blunt) esophagectomies were performed in 5 and 17 patients, respectively. The stomach, with a cervical esophagogastric anastomosis, was used for esophageal substitution in 15 patients. Six patients underwent a long-segment colonic interposition, and 1 patient with achalasia underwent a distal esophagectomy and short-segment colonic interposition. One patient undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy for achalasia died from unrecognized intraoperative bleeding into the opposite chest. There were no other operative deaths. Additional complications included transient hoarseness in 8 patients, chylothorax in 1, and anastomotic leak in 1. After an average follow-up of 25 months for the 21 surviving patients, ability to eat is regarded as good in 18 (85%), fair in 1 (5%), and poor in 2 (10%). In patients with incapacitating esophageal neuromotor disease, a more radical operative approach-esophagectomy--may be safer and more reliable than attempting another procedure and risking another failure. Esophagectomy ensures definitive elimination of the esophageal problem and as optimal an ability to eat as possible. Our experience suggests that the stomach, with a cervical esophagogastric anastomosis, offers a better functional esophageal substitute than does a colonic interposition.
Ann Thorac Surg 1982 Sep
PMID:Esophagectomy: definitive treatment for esophageal neuromotor dysfunction. 711 44

Pneumatic dilatation is an accepted treatment for achalasia. However, in Australia, its use is limited, with oesophagomyotomy being the usual treatment. Since April, 1977, pneumatic dilatation has been used as the initial treatment for achalasia at The St George Hospital. Ten patients have been treated, with a successful result in seven. There were no complications. These results are in agreement with those published previously and compare favourably with those of oesophagomyotomy. They support the view that pneumatic dilatation is a safe, simple and effective means of treating achalasia.
Med J Aust 1980 Sep 06
PMID:Pneumatic dilatation for the treatment of achalasia. 743 11

We have reviewed and analyzed the clinical and radiographic features of 38 patients with proven carcinoma involving the esophagogastric junction. There were 29 cases of adenocarcinoma and nine of squamous cell carcinoma presenting with similar symptoms, surgical findings and radiographic characteristics. Features that suggest adenocarcinoma are: 1. mass or distortion of the gastric fundus; 2. short lesion; 3. smooth submucosal contour defect representing tumor undermining mucosa. Hiatus hernia was present in 17% of adenocarcinomas and 44% of epidermoid carcinomas but the association appears to be coincidental. Atypical forms of presentation such as lesions involving almost the entire esophagus or mimicking peptic esophagitis and achalasia are discussed and illustrated. Pertinent data from the literature is reviewed. In order to avoid errors in the roentgenographic diagnosis routine careful examination of the esophagogastric junction is recommended.
Am J Gastroenterol 1980 Sep
PMID:Carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. 746 59

The esophagus is involved by a wide range of pathologic processes that can be detected, defined, and staged with computed tomography (CT). These processes include esophageal carcinoma; benign esophageal tumors; inflammatory and infectious diseases; miscellaneous conditions such as Barrett esophagus, achalasia, and varices; and trauma and perforation. CT is usually performed to clarify findings seen with other imaging modalities or to stage a pathologic condition; however, it may be the primary imaging modality in some cases. Because of the critical location of the esophagus, it can be involved secondarily by other disease processes or as part of a systemic process. By being aware of the appearances of the various entities that affect the esophagus, the radiologist can play an important role in detecting and staging esophageal disease. Although the role of CT in the evaluation of esophageal disease has been controversial, recent developments such as spiral CT have the potential to renew interest in this application.
Radiographics 1995 Sep
PMID:CT of the esophagus: spectrum of disease with emphasis on esophageal carcinoma. 750 54

Vagotomy is reported as a secondary cause of achalasia. Highly selective vagotomy, however, has rarely been reported to cause an achalasia-like syndrome. We suspect that periesophageal trauma accounted for the LES abnormalities seen at manometry in our patient but cannot explain the aperistalsis of the body of the esophagus. Pneumatic dilation improved his dysphagia only slightly but allowed him to maintain his nutrition with oral liquid enteral supplements. We recommend barium swallow, endoscopy, sounding the esophagus with a 50- to 60-French dilator, and manometry in evaluating patients with dysphagia after highly selective vagotomy. If an achalasia-like syndrome is demonstrated, then conservative management with observation and liquid nutritional supplements for four to eight weeks is appropriate. If this fails, pneumatic balloon dilation may be considered. Clearly, a preoperative history of dysphagia should prompt evaluation before highly selective vagotomy. This case represents a transient achalasia-like syndrome after highly selective vagotomy and signifies the importance of conservative management.
Dig Dis Sci 1995 Sep
PMID:Achalasia-like syndrome presenting after highly selective vagotomy. 755 68

Heartburn, the main symptom of gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GORD), might be expected to occur infrequently in achalasia, a disorder characterised by a hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) that fails to relax. Nevertheless, it is often described by patients with achalasia. The medical records of 32 patients with untreated achalasia who complained of heartburn, and of 35 similar patients who denied the symptom, were reviewed to explore the implications of heartburn in this condition. Data on endoscopic and manometric findings, and on the onset and duration of oesophageal symptoms were collected. Three patterns of heartburn were observed: (1) in 8 patients (25%) the onset of heartburn followed the onset of dysphagia, (2) in 15 patients (47%) heartburn preceded the onset of dysphagia and persisted as dysphagia progressed, and (3) in 9 patients (28%), heartburn preceded the onset of dysphagia and stopped as dysphagia progressed. The mean (SD) basal LOS pressure in the patients with heartburn (38 (16) mm Hg) was significantly lower than that in patients without the symptom (52 (26) mm Hg); the lowest LOS pressure (29 (11) mm Hg) was observed in the subset of patients whose heartburn preceded the onset of dysphagia and then stopped. It is concluded that patients who have achalasia with heartburn have lower basal LOS pressures than patients who have achalasia without this symptom. In some patients with achalasia, the appearance of dysphagia is heralded by the disappearance of longstanding heartburn. For these patients, it is speculated that achalasia develops in the setting of underlying GORD.
Gut 1995 Sep
PMID:Heartburn in patients with achalasia. 867 9

We treated a patient with retrograde gastroesophageal intussusception complicating chronic achalasia. Operation consisted of diaphragmatic division in the median plane to facilitate reduction, followed by Heller myotomy and fundoplication for the achalasia. The patient was able to eat normally after recovery.
Arch Surg 1995 Sep
PMID:Retrograde gastroesophageal intussusception complicating chronic achalasia. 766 60


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