Esophageal Disorders Flashcards
What is Dyspepsia?
- Impaired Digestion
- Discomfort in upper abdomen or chest described as gas, feeling of fullness, gnawing, or burning
- Described as Indigestion, heartburn, & Agida
What are the most common causes of dyspepsia?
- GERD
2. PUD
Name some less common causes of Dyspepsia?
- Gastritis
- Esophageal/Gastric Ca
- Celiac Dz
- Food allergy
- Gastroparesis
- Ischemic bowel Dz
What is Dysphagia?
Difficulty swallowing (generally painless) A. Pressure sensation or food gets stuck
With Dysphagia what do you want to determine?
Do Solids or Solids & Liquids get stuck?
A. Solids (Obstruction)
B. Solids & Liquids (mechanical abnormality)
Causes for Dysphagia
- Achalasia
- Esophageal CA
- Zenker’s diverticulum
- Schatzki’s ring
- Esophageal stenosis/stricture
What is Odynophagia?
Painful swallowing
Causes for Odynophagia
- Esophageal spasm
- Esophagitis
- Mallory-Weiss tear
What are the alarm symptoms of esophageal cancer
Dysphagia with: Age > 60 yr Anemia Heme (+) stools Sx’s > 6 mo Weight loss
Name for Diagnostic Modalities
- Esophagram (Barium Swallow)
What is GERD?
Recurrent reflux of gastric contents into distal esophagus due to mechanical or functional abnormality of Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES )
Symptoms of GERD
- Pressure
- Heartburn (pyrosis)
- Dysphagia
Factors promoting GERD
- ↑ Gastric volume after meals
- ↑ Gastric pressure
A. Truncal obesity
B. PP recumbency
C. Pregnancy - Delayed gastric emptying
A. Gastroparesis
Contributing Factors of GERD
- Medications
A. Anticholinergics (dyspepsia/constipation), TCA’s (ileus)
B. NSAID’s, ASA, Steroids, Bisphosphanates - Foods
A. Caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, carbonated liquids
Fats (Slow to digest)
B. Peppermint, ETOH (Relax LES) - Lifestyle behaviors
A. Smoking, wt gain, eating late, overeating
Complications of GERD
- Reflux Esophagitis
A. Visible mucosal damage
B. Erosions or ulcers in distal esophagus at squamocolumnar junction (Z-line)
Causes of esophagitis
- Inflammation of esophagus
- Causes in non-immunocompromised pt
A. Candidiasis (Tx with oral fluconazole (Diflucan))
B. Pills
Alendronate (Fosamax), risendronate (Actonel), doxycycline, NSAIDs, iron, Vit C, KCl, quinine
Tx w/ Sucralfate (Carafate) susp., viscous lidocaine
Complications of esophagitis
- Esophageal Stricture
Risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma
- Large HH
- Duration of GERD
- Long segment of BE
- Abnormal mucosa
A. Ulcerations
B. Stricture
C. Nodules
What is the gold standard for diagnosing Barrett’s Esophagitis?
Upper Endoscopy (EGD) w/ Bx of distal esophagus
Lifestyle modifications for GERD
- Small meals
- Eliminate acidic/caffeinated foods
- Eliminate factors that relax LES
- Weight reduction
- Avoid lying down w/in 3 hr of meals
- Elevate HOB 6-8”
- Smoking cessation
- Chew (non-mint) gum to ↑ saliva
What can someone take for mild intermittent GERD Sx’s
- Antacids
2. Histamine 2 Receptor Antagonists
What can someone take for persistent GERD Sx’s
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI)
Long Term Therapy for GERD
- PPI Therapy
A. If sx’s relieved, therapy may be d/c’d after 8-12 wk
B. Pt w/complications of GERD, lifelong PPI qd-bid
If the patient is unresponsive to PPI’s what is indicated?
- Upper endoscopy
2. Want to r/o Reflux esophagitis, ZE syndrome, Barrett’s esophagus, stricture, PUD, eosinophilic esophagitis, tumor
When to get an upper endoscopy for Barrett’s Esophagus
A. For no dysplasia
B. Low grade dysplasia
C. High grade dysplasia
A. q 2-3 yr, after 2 yearly (-) results
Indications for Surgery
- Extra-esophageal manifestations of reflux
- Severe GERD & noncompliant w/ lifelong medical Tx
- Large HH & persistent regurgitation despite PPI’s