Esophagus Flashcards
Esophagus develops during gestation
4th week
Failure of separation of dorsal foregut from laryngotracheobronchial tree during development
TEF fistula
Failure of recanalization of tubular lumen
Esophageal atresia, web, stenosis
5-6cm
Extends from cricopharyngeus (C6) to thoracic inlet (T1)
Cervical esophagus
15cm From TO (T1) to esophagea hiatus of diaphragm (T10)
Thoracic esophagus
Short 5-6cm
Absent in patients with hiatal hernia or esophageal shortening from chronic inflammation
Abdominal esophagus
Cricopharyngeus (UES) innveration
recurrent laryngeal nerve
Functional zone not an anatomic structure
LES
Anatomic sites of esophageal narrowing
Most common sites of foreign body impaction
Aortic arch
left main stem Bronchus
Cricopharyngeus
Diaphragm
Esophageal wall layers
Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscularis
Esoohagus lacks this layer so healing is poor after insult
Serosa
Mucosa of esopahgus
Non keratinizing SSE
Muscularis layer is divided into
Outer longitudinal
Inner circular
Upper 1/3 of esophageal muscle
Lower 2/3
striated
smooth
Esophageal landmark by endoscopic distance from incisor
UES
Thoracic inlet
Aortic arch/LMB
LES/GEJ
UES 15cm
TI 18cm
Aortic arch/LMB 25cm
LES/GEJ 40cm
Upper 1/3 of esophagus blood supply
Inferior thyroid artery
Middle 1/3 esophagus blood supply
Descending thoracic aorta
Bronchial arteries
Lower 1/3 esophagus blood supply
Left gastric artery
Inferior phrenic artery
Parasympathetic inn to esophagus
Vagus nerve
Innervates cricopharyngeus and cervical region
recurrent laryngeal nerve
sympathetic fibers for the esophagus arise from
Cervical
Thoracic chain ganglia
Contains nonsegmented network of lymphatics
Submucosa
Upper 2/3 cephalad drain
Lower caudad
Site of cricopharyngeal weakness
Most common location to find pseudodiverticula or iatrogenic perforation
Killian’s triangle
35 y/o female
progressive heartburn, regurgitation of undigested food
barium swallow: bird beak tapering of distal esoph
manometry reveals:
Achalasia
Lack of peristalsis
Failure of LES relaxation
Strongest layer of esophagus
Primary importance for surgical repair
submucosa
Most common esophageal motility disorder
25-60 years equal distribution
Aperistalsis
Failure of LES relaxation during swallowing
Not a primary disorder but neural degeneration
Achalasia
Patients with achalasia present with
Progressive dysphagia to solids and liquids
Heartburn, chest paun
Regurgitation of undigested food
Techniques to ameliorate dysphagia by maintaining upright, keeping arms elevated over head, consuming liquid
Achalasia dx: finding
Barium swallow: bird beak with dilation if proximal segment
Dx mandatory to rule out obstructing mass or stricture
Esophagoscopy
Manometry in achalasia reveals
lack of peristalsis and failure LES relxation
resting LES pressure may be normal or high
UES pressure (resting)
50-70
UES pressure (bolus)
12-14
LES pressure (resting)
10-20
Medical management of achalasia
Nitrates
Ca ch blocker
Botox
Symptomatic improvement but recurrence is high and risk of perforation at 5% in achalasia repair
Pneumatic dilation
Definitive therapy: achalasia
Heller myotomy
Long standing severe achalasia
Dilated and non functional esophagus called
sigmoid esophagus
tx: esophagectomy
smooth muscle degeneration
LES failure
disordered peristalsis of distal esophagus
esophageal dysmotility in 80% women 40-50
sparing of:
Scleroderma
proximal striated
Scleroderma s and sx
severe reflux esophagitis
dysphagia
scleroderma (calcinosis, Raynaud, esophageal dysmo, sclerodactyly, skin change, telangiectasia, renal impairment, pulmonary HTN)
Scleroderma dx: finding
Barium: dilated esophagus with DISTAL NARROWING
Manometry: dysmotility, aperistalsis of distal esophagus with inc LES
Medical mx of scleroderma
Sx
H2 blocker
PPI
HOB elevation
severe with loss of function (fundoplicariob and gastroplasty)
Primary motility disorder
Disordered high amplitude motility
Substernal chest pain radiating to neck or upper ex
Dysphagia with solid and liquid
Diffuse esophageal spasm