Esophagus Flashcards
Atresia
Incomplete development
Tracheoesophageal fistula
Abnormal connection b/w 2 tubes (this case = esophagus and trachea)
What is TE fistula?
Congential defect w/connection b/w esophagus and trachea
Most common variant of TE fistula?
Proximal esophageal atresia w/distal esophagus arising from stomach
Presentation of TE fistula?
Vomiting, polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid b/c baby can’t remove any via swallowing), abdominal distension (air entering stomach), and aspiration (gastric contents coming up into trachea)
Esophageal web?
Thin protrusion of esophageal mucosa
What is esophageal web found?
Most often upper esophagus
Presentation of esophageal web?
Dysphagia w/poorly chewed food
Esophageal web increases risk of?
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Plummer-Vinson Syndrome/Patterson-Brown-Kelly Syndrome? (4)
Severe iron deficiency anemia
Esophageal web
Beefy red tongue due to atrophic glossitis and exposed BV
Cheilosis (inflammation at corners of mouth)
Esophageal rings - Schatzki A and B
Similar to webs but circumferential and thicker
Rings include…
Mucosa and submucosa (and sometimes hypertrophic muscularis propria)
A rings
Above gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) - A (squamous mucosa)
B rings
Below gastroesophageal junction - B (gastric cardia-type mucosa)
Diverticulae
Outpouching of pharyngeal mucosa thru an acquired defect in muscular wall
Esophageal diverticula
FALSE diverticulae b/c lack true muscularis involvement
How to get diverticulae
Disordered swallowing
Presentation of diverticula
Dysphagia, obstruction, and halitosis (due to rotting food stuck in throat)
Types of esophageal diverticula
Zenker (above UES)
Epiphrenic (above LES)
Traction (midpoint of esophagus)
Esophageal lacerations/Mallory Weiss tears
Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
Longitudinal laceration of mucosa at GEJ
Lacerations caused by
Severe vomiting
Presentation of lacerations
Painful hematemesis
Expect w/lacerations (2 diseases)
Alcoholism or bulimia
Pathophys of Mallory Weiss Syndrome?
Reflex relaxation of GE musculature precedes antiperistaltic contractile wave associated w/ vomiting –> this fails during prolonged vomiting and gastric contents overwhelm gastric inlet –> esophageal wall stretches and then tears
Achalasia
A = w/out
Chalasis = relaxation
Disordered esophageal motility w/inability to relax LES
Cause of achalasia
Damaged ganglion cells in myenteric plexus (b/w IC and OL of ME, important for regulating bowel motility and LES relaxation)
Damage to myenteric plexus ganglion cells is…
Primary = idiopathic Secondary = Chagas disease (caused by Trypanosoma cruzi)
Clinical features of Achalasia (5)
- Dysphagia for solids and liquids (b/c need peristalsis to move both down esophagus)
- Putrid breath (accumulation of rotten food in esophagus)
- High LES pressure on esophageal manometry
- Bird break sign on barium swallow study (inability to relax LES –> dilation of esophageal wall as food/liquid build up in esophagus)
- Increased risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Tx for Achalasia
Botox, laparoscopic myotomy, pneumatic balloon dilation