Disorders of the Esophagus Flashcards
not done
Common sx that almost always indicate a primary esophageal disorder
Heartburn (pyrosis)
Dysphagia
Odynophagia
The feeling of substernal burning
Often radiates to the neck
Caused by the reflux of acidic material into the esophagus
Highly specific for GERD
what is this sx?
Pyrosis
Difficulty swallowing
what is this term?
dysphagia
Problems in transferring the food bolus from the oropharynx to the upper esophagus
what type of dysphagia
oropharyngeal
Impaired transport of the bolus through the body of the esophagus
what type of dysphagia
esophageal
The oropharyngeal phase of swallowing is a complex process:
- elevation of the tongue
- closure of the nasopharynx
- relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter
- closure of the airway
- pharyngeal peristalsis
drooling or spillage of food from the mouth, inability to chew or initiate swallowing, or dry mouth
this pt with oropharyngeal dysphagia is having trouble of what phase of swallowing?
oral phase
an immediate sense of the bolus catching in the neck, the need to swallow repeatedly to clear food from the pharynx, or coughing / choking during meals
these are characterized by which type of dysphagia?
pharyngeal dysphagia
causes of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
-
Infectious disease
Polio, diphtheria, botulism, Lyme disease, syphilis, mucositis (Candida, herpes) -
Structural disorders
- Zenker diverticulum
- Cervical osteophytes, cricopharyngeal bar, proximal esophageal webs
- Oropharyngeal tumors
- Postsurgical or radiation changes
- Pill-induced injury -
Motility disorders
- Upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction -
Neurologic disorders
- Brainstem cerebrovascular accident, mass lesion
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, pseudobulbar palsy, post-polio syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, dementia
- Tardive dyskinesia -
Muscular and rheumatologic disorders
- Myopathies, polymyositis
- Oculopharyngeal dystrophy
- Sjögren syndrome -
Metabolic disorders
- Thyrotoxicosis, amyloidosis, Cushing disease, Wilson disease
- med side effects: anticholinergics, phenothiazines
causes of Esophageal Dysphagia
- Mechanical Obstruction
- Motility Disorder
this type of Esophageal Dysphagia
is worse with solid foods than liquids
what is the cause of dysphagia?
Mechanical Obstruction
this type of Esophageal Dysphagia
is bad with both solids and liquids, what is the cause of the dysphagia?
motility disorder
Sharp substernal pain on swallowing that may limit oral intake
what is this term?
Odynophagia
Usually reflects severe erosive disease
May also be caused by corrosive injury due to caustic ingestions and by pill-induced ulcers
Odynophagia MC associated with infectious esophagitis due to what infections?
Candida, herpes viruses, or CMV
especially in immunocompromised patients
Two most common complaints with GERD
heartburn and regurgitation
Dysfunction of the Gastroesophageal Junction is vulnerable to what 3 MC mechanisms of reflux?
- Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation
- Anatomic disruption if GE Junction - Hiatal hernia, laxity in the diaphragm attachment
- Hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter
how does the Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation cause Dysfunction of the Gastroesophageal Junction
- Physiologic mechanism of belching
- Active, vagally mediated reflex allowing air to leave stomach
- A primary determinant of reflux is an increase in these relaxations that are associated with acid reflux rather than gas
how does a Hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter cause Dysfunction of the Gastroesophageal Junction
- Factors that reduce lower esophageal sphincter pressure include gastric distention, smoking, certain foods, medications
- An abrupt rise in intra-abdominal pressure can “blow open” and overcome the LES pressure
s/s of GERD
- heartburn
- 30–60 mins after meals and upon reclining
- relief from taking antacids
- if dominant - highly diagnostic - regurg possible
- Dysphagia or odynophagia possible
- occurs in 1/3 of pts
- d/t erosive esophagitis, abnormal esophageal peristalsis, or the development of an esophageal stricture - “Atypical” or “extraesophageal” manifestations of gastroesophageal disease possible
- Asthma, chronic cough, chronic laryngitis, sore throat, non-cardiac chest pain, and sleep disturbances
approach in evaluation of GERD
- PE and laboratory data are normal in uncomplicated disease
- Initial diagnostic studies are not warranted with typical GERD sx uncomplicated reflux disease
- Further investigation required with sx that persist despite empiric PPI therapy
what are the “alarm features” that warrant further evaluation with GERD?
- New onset dyspepsia in pt age >60
- Evidence of upper GI bleed
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Anorexia
- Unexplained weight loss
- Severe dysphagia/odynophagia
- Persistent vomiting
- GI cancer in first degree relative
what special examination is used for:
- documenting the type and extent of tissue damage in gastroesophageal reflux
- detecting other gastroesophageal lesions that may mimic GERD
- detecting GERD complications: esophageal stricture, Barrett metaplasia, and esophageal adenocarcinoma
Upper endoscopy (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD)
In the absence of prior PPI therapy, up to 1/3 of pts with GERD have what?
visible mucosal damage (known as reflux esophagitis)
if treated with a PPI prior to endoscopy, preexisting reflux esophagitis may be partially or completely healed
prevalence of hiatal hernia
1/4 of pts with nonerosive GERD
3/4 of pts with severe erosive esophagitis
Over 90% of pts with Barrett esophagus
Caused by movement of the LES above the diaphragm
Resulting in dysfunction of the gastroesophageal junction reflux barrier
what type of esophageal disorder?
hiatal hernia
what is sliding hiatal hernia
- Progressive disruption of Gastroesphageal Junction
- Widening of muscular hiatal tunnel and circumferential laxity of phrenoesophageal membrane allow a portion of gastric cardia to herniate upward
- phrenoesophageal membrane remains intact and hernia is contained within the posterior mediastinum
what type of hernia is associated with abnormal laxity of the gastrosplenic and gastrocolic ligaments, which normally prevent displacement of the stomach
As the hernia enlarges, the greater curvature of the stomach rolls up into the thorax
Paraesophageal Hernias
“rolling” hiatal hernia
Possible Causes/Risk Factors for Hiatal Hernia
- Age-related changes in your diaphragm
- Injury to the area, for example, after trauma or certain types of surgery
- Being born with an unusually large hiatus
- Persistent and intense pressure on the surrounding muscles, such as while coughing, vomiting, straining during a bowel movement, exercising or lifting heavy objects
- Pregnancy - MC age +50, obesity
presentation of pts with gastroesophageal reflux in sliding hiatal hernia?
higher amounts of acid reflux and delayed esophageal acid clearance
- heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia
- leading to more severe esophagitis and Barrett esophagus
can be asymptomatic or have only vague, intermittent sx
epigastric or substernal pain, postprandial fullness, nausea, and retching.
GERD sx are less prevalent
this presentation is associated with what type of hernia?
what type of epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by metaplastic columnar epithelium from the stomach in barrett’s esophagus
Squamous
Believed to arise from chronic reflux-induced injury to the esophageal squamous epithelium
On endoscopy there is presence of salmon-orange colored, gastric type epithelium that extends upward from the stomach into the distal tubular esophagus in a circumferential fashion
what is your dx?
Barrett’s Esophagus
bx obtained at endoscopy confirm the dx
f/u for barrett’s esophagus but no dysplasia
surveillance endoscopy every 3–5 years
f/u in barrett’s esophagus with low-grade dysplasia
Resect any areas of dysplasia, then repeat endoscopic surveillance in 6 mo to exclude any areas of dysplasia, then endoscopic surveillance should be repeated yearly until non-dysplastic Barrett’s exists