Oesophageal Disorders Flashcards
What is the length of the oesophagus?
25cm
Where does the oesophagus begin and end?
Begins at lower level of cricoid cartilage (C6)
Terminates at T11-T12 where it enters the stomach
What kind of muscle is present in the oesophagus?
Upper 1/3 is skeletal muscle
Lower 2/3 is smooth muscle
What is the classification of the epithelium in the oesophagus?
Stratified squamous
What is the function of the oesophagus?
Transport food/liquid from the mouth to the stomach which is an active process
What propels swallowed materials into the stomach?
Oesophageal peristalsis
What produces oesophageal peristalsis?
Oesophageal circular muscles
What must the oesophageal circular muscles coordinate with so that food can enter the stomach?
Lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS)
What must the LOS do to allow food to enter the stomach?
Relax
What is contraction in the oesophageal body (peristalsis) and relaxation of the LOS mediated by?
Vagus nerve
What forms the LOS?
Striated muscle of the right crus of diaphragm
What is formed by the acute angle of His at gastro-oesophageal junction?
Mucosal rosette
What does GOJ stand for?
Gastro-oesophageal junction
What is the resting pressure like in distal smooth muscle of oesophagus?
High resting pressure due to LOS
What are key symptoms of oesophageal disease?
Heartburn
Dysphagia
What is heartburn?
Retrosternal discomfort or burning
What can heartburn be associated with?
Waterbrash (sudden flow of saliva)
Cough
What is a sudden flow of saliva called?
Waterbrash
What is heartburn a consequence of?
Reflux of acidic and/or bilious gastric contents into oesophagus
What do things that reduce LOS pressure result in?
Increased reflux/heartburn
What are examples of things that can reduce LOS pressure?
Drugs (dietary xanthines, alcohol, nicotine)
Food
What does persistent reflux and heartburn lead to?
Gastro-oesophageal disease (GORD)
What does GORD stand for?
Gastro-oesophageal disease
What is dysphagia?
Subjective sensation of difficulty in swallowing foods and/or liquids
What often accompanies dysphagia?
Odynophagia (pain when swallowing)
What is pain when swallowing called?
Odynophagia
What should you enquire about when a patient presents with dysphagia?
Type of food (solid v liquid)
Pattern (progressive, intermittent)
Associated features (weight loss, regurgitation, cough)
Where can the location of dysphagia be?
Oropharyngeal (part of throat behind the mouth)
Oesophageal
What is the part of the throat behind the mouth called?
Oropharyngeal
What are some possible causes of dysphagia?
Benign stricture
Malignant stricture (oesophageal cancer)
Motility disorders
Eosinophilic oesophagitis
Extrinsic compression (such as lung cancer0
What is eosinophilic oesophagitis?
Allergic inflammatory condition of the oesophagus
What are examples of motility disorders?
Achalasia
Presbyoesophagus
What are the main investigations done for oesophageal disease?
Endoscopy
Contrast radiology
Oesophageal pH and manometry
What is an endoscopy?
Procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope (long, thin, flexible tube) that has a light source and camcer at one end
What are examples of different endoscopies that can examine the oesophagus?
Oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD)
Upper GI endoscopy
What does OGD stand for?
Oesophageal-gastro-duodenalscopy
What does UGIE stand for?
Upper GI endoscopy
What is an exampe of a contrast radiology that can be used to examine the oesophagus?
Barium swallow
What is an oesophageal pH and manometry?
Naso-gastric catheter containing pressure and pH sensors placed in oesophagus
Where are the probs for a oesophageal pH and manometry placed?
At both UOS and LOS
Why is manometry used in investigations of dysphagia?
To assess sphincter tonicity, relaxation of sphincters and oesophagus
What does manometry messure?
Pressure
What are pH studies of the oesophagus used to investigate?
Refractory hearburn/reflux
What is manometry of the oesophagus used to investigate?
Dysphagia/suspected motility disorder
What are the 2 categories of motility disorders?
Hypermotility
Hypomotility
What is an example of hypermotility disorder?
Diffuse oesophageal spasm
What can be seen on a barium swallow for oesophageal spasm?
Corkscrew appearance
What is the common presentation of oesophageal spasms?
Severe, episodic chest pain with or without dysphagia
What is oesophageal spasm often confused with?
Angina/MI
What does a manometry for oesophageal spasms show?
Exaggerated, uncoordinated, hypertonic contractions
What are hypermotility disorders?
Abnormal or excessive movement of the oesophagus
What are hypomotility disorders?
Abnormal deficiency of movement of the oesophagus