Other Oesophageal Conditions (Achalasia, Eosinophilic Oesophagitis) Flashcards

1
Q

Achalasia:
What is it?

How does it present?

What are its investigations?

How is it managed?

A

➊ Motor disorder characterised by a loss of oesophageal peristalsis and failure of the LOS to relax in response to swallowing, therefore leading to a build-up of food/fluids at the bottom of the oesophagus. This is due to a loss of inhibitory nitrinergic neurons in the oesophageal myenteric plexus.

➋ * Progressive dysphagia
* Regurgitation and retrosternal chest pain

➌ * Endoscopy to exclude malignancy
* Barium swallow and oesophageal manometry for diagnosis

➍ * Nitrates (e.g. Isosorbide dinitrate) or CCB before meals
* Oesophageal dilatation
* Cardiomyotomy (Heller procedure) - Vertical cut made in muscle layer of the lower oesophagus, leaving the inner lining intact. As this procedure is often complicated by reflux afterwards, fundoplication is usually performed at the same time to minimise this.

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2
Q

Eosinophilic Oesophagitis:
What is it?

How does it present?

How is it investigated?

How is it managed?

A

➊ Chronic, immune-mediated/allergen-mediated condition defined clinically by symptoms of oesophageal dysfunction, and pathologically by an eosinophilic infiltration of the oesophageal epithelium in the absence of secondary causes of local/systemic eosinophilia.

➋ It’s more commonly seen in children and young adults. It can present with:
* Dysphagia and food impaction
* Regurgitation, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain,
* Failure to thrive or feeding intolerance in children

➌ * OGD
* Oesophageal biopsy

➍ * Oral corticosteroids or PPI’s
* Dietary elimination
* Oesophageal dilatation for pts with strictures or fibrostenotic complications

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