Dysphagia

Question 1

What is dysphagia?

Answer 1

This means trouble swallowing

It is a common PC

Question 2

What are the three types of dysphagia?

Answer 2

Pharyngeal/Oesophageal
Oesophageal
External

Question 3

Describe Pharyngeal/Oesophageal Dysphagia?

Answer 3

Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)
Motor Neurone Disease
Upper Oesophageal Achalsia

Question 4

Describe Oesophageal Dysphagia

Answer 4

Oesophageal Achalasia
Oesophageal Spasm
Luminal Obstruction (Stricture, Bolus, Carcinoma)

Question 5

Describe External Dysphagia

Answer 5

Goitre
Lung Cancer
Pharyngeal Diverticulum
Vascular Abnormalities (AAA, Enlarged Heart)
Diabetes (Causes motility disorders)

Question 6

Symptoms associated with dysphagia?

Answer 6

Chest Pain
Pain on swallowing (Odynophagia)
Reflux of food/bile into mouth (Severe GORD)
Loss of Weight
Hoarseness (Cancer invasion into the recurrent laryngea nerve)

Question 7

What does Progressively worsening dysphagia suggest?

Answer 7

Cancer

Question 8

What does difficulty swallowing solids but not liquids suggest?

Answer 8

Muscular Inco-ordination

Question 9

What does Dysphagia + Weight loss suggest?

Answer 9

Cancer

Question 10

Investigations for Dysphagia?

Answer 10

Endoscopy

Barium Swallow

Question 11

What is a Pharyngeal pouch?

Answer 11

This is a pouch caused by unco-ordinated swallowing movements. May cause dysphagia and gurgling after swallowing. Treated with surgery

Question 12

What is Achalasia?

Answer 12

This is a motility disorder of the Oeosphagus. The oesophageal sphincter doesn’t open properly and there is failure of peristalisis
Treatment: Remove sphincter or rip it with a balloon
Side Effect; GORD