Dysphagia

Question 1

What is dysphagia?

Answer 1

Difficulty swallowing.

Question 2

Painful swallowing?

Answer 2

Odynophagia.

Question 3

What is Dysphasia?

Answer 3

Difficulty forming speech.

Question 4

Inability to form speech?

Answer 4

Aphasia.

Question 5

Structural vs Functional Dysphagia?

Answer 5

S: Abnormal oesophageal tissue.
F: Abnormal motility, often = neurological disease

Question 6

Important Questions on History?

Answer 6

1) How long?
2) Constant or Intermittent?
3) Solids, liquids OR both?

Question 7

Common signs for Functional Dysphagia?

Answer 7

Longer duration (>months), intermittent + liquids/both.

Question 8

Common signs for Structural Dysphagia?

Answer 8

Shorter duration (days/weeks), constant + solids only

Question 9

Investigations for High lesion Dysphagia?

Answer 9

Bloods - FBC (anaemia), U&E (dehydration)

1) Barium swallow
2) Functional suspected - Videofluroscopy
3) Motility suspected/others unremarkable - Manometry

Question 10

Investigations for Low Dysphagia?

Answer 10

Bloods - FBC (anaemia), U&E (dehydration)

1) Endoscopy
2) Motility/unremarkable - manometry

Question 11

Causes include Stroke, MS, myasthenia, achalasia?

Answer 11

Functional

Question 12

Causes include cancer, benign stricture, pharyngeal pouch?

Answer 12

Structural