Of 130 patients diagnosed to have esophageal motility disorders, transformation of diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) into achalasia was identified in one patient. The clinical syndmme of DES was first described by Hamilton Osgood in 1889. It is characterizedby symptoms of substernal chest pain and dysphagia, tertiary contractions on barium swallow and a manometric pattern of frequent simultaneous ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Achalasia is known to result from degeneration of inhibitory neurons, which are mostly nitrinergic. Characteristic features of achalasia include incomplete lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation and esophageal aperistalsis. Nitric oxide (NO), pro-duced by NO synthase (NOS), plays an important role in peristalsis and LES relaxation. Therefore, we evaluated genetic poly-morph...

INTRODUCTION Idiopathic esophageal achalasia was described in 1682 as a motor disorder of smooth muscle. In 1913 transabdominal cardiomyotomy was introduced and in 1958 this technique was popularized via a left thoracotomy, in 1991 laparoscopic cardiomyotomy was introduced since then many surgeons have adopted this technique as the primary treatment of esophageal achalasia. OBJECTIVE Evaluate...

PATIENT Female, 82 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Achalasia Symptoms: Nocturnal regurgtation • weight loss MEDICATION - Clinical Procedure: Esophageal stenting Specialty: Gastroenterology • Hepatology Objective: Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment. BACKGROUND Pneumatic dilatation is one of the most effective methods for treating achalasia. Esophageal perforation is the most serious complication aft...

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by failure of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation and is rare in children. The most common symptoms are vomiting, dysphagia, regurgitation, and weight loss. Definitive diagnosis is made with barium swallow study and esophageal manometry. In adults, endoscopic biopsy is recommended to exclude malignancy however; it is not as ofte...

The simultaneous occurrence of achalasia and esophageal diverticula is rare. Here, we report the case of a 68-year-old man with multiple esophageal diverticula associated with achalasia who was later diagnosed with early esophageal cancer. He initially presented with dysphagia and dyspepsia, and injection of botulinum toxin to the lower esophageal sphincter relieved his symptoms. Five years lat...

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder of unknown etiology characterized by insufficient lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation in response to deglution. We present the case of a child diagnosed with asthma, with no response to asthma treatment. On account of associating dysphagia, regurgitation of food and weight loss he was given an abdominal ultrasound that revealed a massive ...

IMPORTANCE Although successful treatment of achalasia depends on alleviating the obstruction at the esophagogastric junction, the postintervention contractile and pressurization pattern may also play a role in outcome. OBJECTIVE To determine whether myotomy that alleviates the esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction in achalasia might improve peristalsis. DESIGN Retrospective study fro...

138 " Chicago Classification " Should Be Challenged in the Diagnosis of Achalasia: Heterogeneity of Achalasia Figure 1. Clinical findings of a 12-year-old female with solid dysphagia. (A) Upper endoscopy shows dilated esophagus and retained food material. (B) Lower esophageal sphincter is not opened with air inflation. (C) Esophageal dilata-tion with bird-beak narrowing of the esophagogastric j...

BACKGROUND & AIMS Sildenafil shows an intense and prolonged inhibitory effect on the smooth muscle cells of the human corpus cavernosum by blocking phosphodiesterase type 5 that destroys nitric oxide-stimulated cyclic guanosine monophosphate. We investigated if sildenafil possesses a similar effect on the esophageal musculature of patients with achalasia, where there is an impairment of nitric ...