Achalasia Flashcards
define Achalasia etymologically?
without relaxation
what is the proposed aetiology?
problem with myenteric plexus
what age are people most commonly affected?
middle-aged
which genetic condition is associated with achalasia?
is this condition dominant or recessive?
Allgrove syndrome
recessive
which infection can cause achalasia & why?
what is another name for this infection?
trypanosoma cruzi infection
damages myesnteric plexus
chagas disease
what is a typical Hx of someone with achalsaia?
Chronic dysphagia, regurgitating food, lost weight and I cough when lying down
what happens to weight?
weight loss
why is oesophagus dilated?
LES sphincter can not relax
what essentially is the LES sphincter?
bundle of muscles
why is there coughing?
regurgitation
which complication of achalasia has an increased risk when asleep?
why does risk increase when asleep?
aspiration pneumonia
more likely to regurgitate
which malignancy has a 140x increase risk?
oesophageal cell carcinoma
symptoms of achalasia?
-3
Dysphagia (solids and liquids)
Heartburn
Regurgitate food
gold.S Ix?
manometry
What are the primary Ix for achalasia?
-3
manometry
endoscope
barium swallow
why might endoscopy be done in the investigative process?
exclude cancer
barium swallow will have what appearance?
what is this appearance nicknamed as?
oesophagus dilated, tapers off at LES
bird beak appearance
result on CXR
wide mediastinum
which treatment option has best outcome?
heller cardiomyotomy
what is the risk of heller cardiomyotomy ?
GORD
surgery is not possible, what treatment option can be used instead?
what is this option essentially doing?
botulinum toxin injection
paralyse LES
explain what happens in a cardiomyotomy?
LES sphincter located in cardia, muscles of LES sphincter are cut
which treatment option has risk of perforation?
endoscopic pneumatic dilation
person has dysphagia which is explained by a cancer.
is this called achalasia?
why?
no
for it to be called achalaisa there can be no other explanation
