Esophageal Conditions Flashcards
Esophageal Disorders: Red Flags
– Weight loss, mass, symptoms time worsening, abrupt onset after 50
– Other: muscle weakness,neurological signs, pain
Dysphagia
-Difficulty swallowing
-May say “food feels stuck”
-Liquids or colids
Causes of Dysphagia
NMS, obstruction of inflammation of esophagus
Odynophagia
-Pain with swallowing (often sharp)
-Usually associated with diffuse or severe inflammation
Pyrosis
Heartburn
In esophageal disorders, chest pain is often result of:
Motility issue which resembles heart
Regurgitation
Small amount of content comes up
Risk Factors of Dysphagia
-Older adults: Natural aging leads to decreased muscle tone*
-Neurological disorders/damage (ie. stroke)
Esophageal Disorders: Testing Procedures
-Palpation: lump, mass, hypertonic tissue
-Swallow (screening) test: pain, dysfunction
(Drinking water test)
Esophageal Disorders: Diagnostic Procedures
-Barium swallow (upper GI series)
-Endoscopic exam (upper GI endoscopy)
-CT, MRI
Functional vs. Pathological Swallowing Issues
-Functional: No evidence, globus hystericus
-Pathological: Evidence, most conditions
Oropharyngeal: Location, Symptoms
-Oral cavity to upper esophageal sphincter
Symptoms
• Trouble initiating swallowing*
• Nasal regurgitation
• Coughing, choking or gagging w/ attempts to swallow
• Halitosis
• Drooling
Oropharyngeal Conditions
• NMS
• Medications
• Oral conditions
• Structural
• Obstructive
Esophageal: Location
Upper to lower esophageal sphincter
Esophageal Conditions
• Mechanical
• Motility (DES/achalasia)
• Obstructive
• Inflammation/ infection
• Other: hiatal hernia, Barrett’s syndrome, etc
Esophageal: Main Symptoms
• Food “gets stuck” (patient may indicate mid to lower part of throat region)*
• Sternal pain/ heart burn (pyrosis)*
Oropharyngeal vs. Esophageal: Causes
-Oropharyngeal: muscle, nerve, structural
-Esophageal: mechanical, motility, obstructive
Globus Hystericus
• Sense of fullness or lump in throat
– Has no difficulty in swallowing
– No mass present
Globus Hystericus: Causes (3)
– No specific etiology
– May be due to pharyngeal muscle spasm
– May result from GERD
– May be symptom of certain mood disorders/stress
Globus hystericus can be confused with other disorders including:
Esophageal, GERD, skeletal muscle, mass lesions
Globus Hystericus: Diagnostic considerations
• Rule out true dysphagia conditions
-Consider other conditions: NMS, conditions causing post-nasal drip, psychosocial/stress
In Globus hystericus, a swallowing screen and palpation for neck masses will:
Come back normal
Diffuse Esophageal Spasm
Abnormal motility due to esophageal motor dysfunction
DES is more common in:
-Age: Mid 40s+
-More common in women
DES Symptoms
• Vague Sx
– Usually intermittent & variable
– May last minutes to hours
DES may evolve to:
Achalasia
DES is also called
Corkscrew esophagus or rosary bead
DES: Symptoms
-Retrosternal pain (may radiate to the back)
-Dysphagia
-Regurgitation
-May occur: at night or with exercise,
DES: Red Flags
Spasms can cause substernal pain w/o dysphagia
-Mimics angina pain*
DES: Other DDx (5)
Achalasia, esophagitis, GERD, diverticula, rings
DES: Diagnostic testing
-Barium swallow*
DES: Medication
-Ca channel blockers, nitroglycerin, antidepressants
-Botox injections
DES: Dietary Factors
-Small meals, pureed foods, quick swallow liquids
Achalasia
• Neurogenic esophageal motility disorder
A. Ineffective peristalsis of esophageal smooth muscle
B. Inadequate relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter
C. Results in functional obstruction of esophagus
Achalasia: Time of Onset
Slowly progressive over months or years
-Usually begins between 20-60
Achalasia is also known as
Esophageal aperistalisis
Achalasia: Symptoms
• Dysphagia (most common)
• Noctural regurgitation (33%)
• Chest pain possible
• Heartburn
• Weight loss:
– mild to moderate
– Rapid weight loss, may be secondary to tumor
Achalasia: Diagnostics
– Barium swallow preferred
Narrowing of the esophagus at lower esophageal sphincter
Bird beak
Esophageal dilation
Megaesophagus
Intrinsic Disorders of Esophagus
-Esophageal web
-Lower esophageal ring
-Esophageal tumors