Esophageal Dz Flashcards
Where does regurgitation help localize a lesion to?
Esophagus
What are 2 types of regurgitation?
Obstructive
Motility
What are 2 endocrinopathies often associated with motility regurg?
HypoT4
Addison’s
With regurgitation, what two types of achalasia might you see and what would be the clinical sign?
Cricopharyngeal achalasia - dysphagia
Esophageal achaasia - Odynophagia
What is esophageal achalasia?
Inability of lower esophageal sphincter to close
Animals that are regurgitating also have a ravenous appetite, why?
Because they are not getting enough nutrients
What 4 things do you need to diagnose regurgitation?
Hx
Clinical signs
Imaging
Biopsy
What type of imaging do you start with when looking at regurgitation?
Plan RADs
What is a contraindication to fluoroscopy?
Megaesophagus
What would you use endoscopy for with regurgitation?
To confirm a stricture
What findings make myasthenia gravis less likely?
a BIG megaesophagus (inversely proportional)
Why is it important to find out if your regurgitating patient has local myasthenia gravis?
Because it can progress to fulminant myasthenia gravis which results in respiratory failure
On plain radiographs of a regurgitating patient, what do you need to keep in mind if they’re sedated?
Can be an artifact of air sitting in esophagus
What is pretty pathognomonic for megaesophagus on thoracic RADs?
Tracheal stripe sign
What are 4 things you may see on thoracic RADs when you’re dealing with regurgitation due to Spirocerca lupi?
Caudodorsal thoracic cavity mass Aortic aneyurism (looks like knuckles) Space filling defect Spondylitis
When is barium contraindicated in a regurgitation contrast study?
Any suspicion of a fistula or worried about aspiration
What will you see if you have aspiration of contrast?
Bronchial pattern
What should you do if you have aspiration of contrast?
Don’t panic, broad spectrum abx for 14 days
What does a normal canine esophagus look like on esophagoscopy?
Pale pink with longitudinal folds and a closed cardia
What is different about a feline esophagus on esophagoscopy?
Annular folds (rings) from striated muscle in the distal 1/3rd
NOTE: Cats very rarely get megaesophagus
What is the most common cause of esophageal stricture in a cat?
Iatrogenic (dry swallowing pills)
When you encounter a stricture, what can help you determine if it is a vascular ring anomaly?
Pulsations
Why can we often only get superficial biopsies of the esophagus?
Because it’s very tough tissue
What neurovascular structure in the esophagus can degenerate/disappear with stress causing megaesophagus?
Myenteric plexus