Diffuse esophageal spasm in children referred for manometry.

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) causes chest pain and/or dysphagia in adults. We reviewed charts of 278 subjects 0 to 18 years of age after esophageal manometry to describe the frequency and characteristics of DES in children. Patient diagnoses included normal motility (61%), nonspecific esophageal motility disorder (20%), DES (13%, n=36), and achalasia (4%). Of patients with DES, the most common chief complaint was food refusal in subjects younger than 5 years (14/24, 58%) and chest pain in subjects older than 5 years (4/12, 33%). Comorbid medical conditions, often multiple, existed in 33 subjects. DES should be considered when young children present with food refusal.

Esophageal motility disorders in the morbidly obese population.

BACKGROUND: Most studies investigating esophageal motility among the morbidly obese have focused on the relationship between lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Very few studies in the literature have examined motility disorders among the morbidly obese population in general outside the context of GERD. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of esophageal motility disorders in obese patients selected for bariatric surgery. METHODS: A total of 116 obese patients (81 women and 35 men) selected for laparoscopic gastric banding underwent manometric evaluation of their esophagus from January to March 2003. Tracings were retrospectively reviewed for the end points of LES resting pressure, LES relaxation, and esophageal peristalsis. RESULTS: The study patients had a body mass index (BMI) of 42.9 kg/m2, and a mean age of 48.6 years. The following abnormal manometric findings were demonstrated in 41% of the patients: nonspecific esophageal motility disorders (23%), nutcracker esophagus (peristaltic amplitude >180 mmHg) (11%), isolated hypertensive LES pressure (>35 mmHg) (3%), isolated hypotensive LES pressure (<12 mmHg) (3%), diffuse esophageal spasm (1%), and achalasia (1%). Only one patient with abnormal esophageal motility reported noncardiac chest pain. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high prevalence of esophageal dysmotility in our morbidly obese study population, there was a conspicuous absence of symptoms. Although the patients in this study were not directly questioned with regard to esophageal symptoms, several studies in the literature support our conclusion.

[Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES). Practical concepts of diagnosis and treatment]. / El espasmo esofágico difuso (EED). Conceptos prácticos sobre diagnóstico y tratamiento.

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) is a motility disorder of undetermined etiology, typically presenting with chest pain, dysphagia or both. The aim of this paper is to provide a critical review of the prevalence, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of DES. Data from referral centers indicates that this is a rare disorder with a prevalence of 4-7%. The diagnosis is based on the combination of typical symptoms, radiological findings and manometry (simultaneous contractions (SC) in the distal esophagus in > or = 20% of wet swallows mixed with normal peristalsis). The pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that nitric oxide deficiency may explain the SC that characterizes this condition at manometry. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) can coexist in DES and GER has also been implied in the pathogenesis of DES. Whether patients with DES and GER represent a subtype of DES with a different prognosis or outcome is unknown. We present a critical appraisal regarding different therapeutic approaches available for DES and conclude suggesting a management algorithm based on current available literature.

Influence of age on pharyngoesophageal spasm rates in laryngectomees.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of pharyngoesophageal spasm and the results of its prevention. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This a prospective longitudinal study including two groups of patients: a study group - 69 laryngectomees to undergo spasm prevention surgery, and a control group - 52 laryngectomees. The diagnostic methods used were: esophageal test, double contrast roentgenoscopy; surgical methods: neurectomy of pharyngeal plexus, myotomy of pharyngeal constrictors, no-muscle layer closure of the pharyngeal defect with myotomy of the esophageal entrance. RESULTS: The incidence of pharyngoesophageal spasm in the control and study group was 34.62% and 14.5%, respectively. In the control group the spasm was significantly more common in patients older that 56 years. This correlation was not observed in the study group. CONCLUSION: A great number of laryngectomees, mainly elderly persons, suffer from voice limiting pharyngoesophageal spasm which correlates to poor rehabilitation results in elderly. Pharyngoesophageal spasm preventing procedures are more beneficial in the elderly.

[Chest pain of esophageal origin in patients with a normal coronary angiogram and ergonovine-induced coronary spasm]. / Dolor torácico de origen esofágico en pacientes con arteriograma coronario normal y espasmo coronario inducido por ergonovina.

In order to differentiate the cardiac or oesophageal origin of chest pain, 55 patients with chest pain, normal coronary arteriogram and normal left ventricular function, were studied. Patients were evaluated with ergonovine test to induce coronary artery spasm and oesophageal function study (including basal manometry in all cases, ClH acid instillation in 53, manometry during ClH instillation in 32 and edrophonium test in 9). There was coronary artery spasm following ergonovine test in 8 patients (group 1) and negative results in 47 (group 2). There was oesophageal disfunction in 50% patients in group 1 and in 62% patients in group 2 (p = NS). The incidence of motor disorders or chest pain following acid instillation was not significatively different in both groups. Nevertheless, in group 1 a tendency to a greater incidence of oesophageal spasm was observed while in group 2 unspecified disorders were more frequent. Thus, in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriogram, we always must discard coronary artery spasm and oesophageal disfunction, because, due to a probably common cause, association between both disorders is frequent.

Diffuse oesophageal spasm masking achalasia.

Several reports have suggested that esophageal motility disorders may progress from one type to another. A 41-year-old female patient underwent thoracoscopic esophagomyotomy for diffuse esophageal spasm (DOS) with normal resting pressure and complete relaxation of the LOS; findings were confirmed in two preoperative esophageal manometries. Postoperatively, she developed severe dysphagia, and a new esophageal manometry concluded achalasia. She underwent a laparoscopic Heller's myotomy and a posterior (180 degrees) Toupet's fundoplication. Since the second operation, she remains asymptomatic and does not experience any difficulty in swallowing. We concluded that DOS and achalasia might coexist in this case. Through multiple synapses and several nervous roots in the esophageal wall, the inhibitory neurons at the level of LOS were effective before esophagomyotomy and did not show symptoms and manometric findings suggestive for achalasia. Esophagomyotomy, causing disruption of these synapses and lost of inhibitory innervation, finally resulted in symptoms and manometric findings of achalasia.

Diffuse esophageal spasm. A rare motility disorder not characterized by high-amplitude contractions.

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) has frequently been described as a motility disorder characterized by simultaneous, high-amplitude contractions. We reviewed the results of esophageal manometry testing on a total of 1480 patients referred to our lab over 36 months. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was determined by a mean of four station pull-through. Esophageal body motility was assessed following 10 wet swallows. In our lab a diagnosis of DES is made when greater than 10% but less than 100% of contractions are simultaneous. Manometric findings of DES were rare, with an overall prevalence of 4% (56/1480). Of the 56 patients with a manometric diagnosis of DES, high-amplitude (mean greater than or equal to 180 mm Hg) peristaltic contractions were found in only two (4%). No simultaneous contractions with amplitude greater than or equal to 180 mm Hg were seen. Pressures of simultaneous contractions were consistently lower than peristaltic contractions. A hypertensive LES pressure (greater than or equal to 45 mm Hg) was present in 5/56 DES patients (9%). Poor LES relaxation was found in 7/56 DES patients (13%). We conclude that DES is a rare manometric finding, regardless of the reason for referral, and that the occurrence of high-amplitude contractions in DES is equally rare.

Complications during pneumatic dilation for achalasia or diffuse esophageal spasm. Analysis of risk factors, early clinical characteristics, and outcome.

UNLABELLED: A retrospective cohort study was performed to assess risk factors, early clinical characteristics, and outcome of complications in patients undergoing pneumatic dilation. Of 178 patients with achalasia or diffuse esophageal spasm who underwent 236 dilations with a Browne-McHardy dilator, 16 patients experienced a complication (9.0%). Nine major complications developed: perforations (4), hematemesis (2), fever (2), and angina (1). A prior pneumatic dilation and use of inflation pressure > or = 11 PSI were independent risk factors by multivariate analysis for developing a complication. An esophagram immediately following the dilation identified three of the four perforations. Three postdilation findings were identified as indicators of patients with an increased risk of having developed a perforation: blood on the dilator, tachycardia, and prolonged chest pain lasting > 4 hr after dilation. In all patients incurring a major complication, one of the three indicators, or the complication itself was recognized within 5 hr of dilation. All patients with complications, including the four with perforation who received prompt surgical repair and esophagomyotomy, recovered uneventfully. The symptomatic relief of dysphagia in patients with perforation undergoing emergent surgical repair and esophagomyotomy was similar to patients undergoing elective esophagomyotomy. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Pneumatic dilation is a safe treatment of achalasia, with a 1.7% risk of perforation. (2) The risk of developing a complication is increased by having had a previous pneumatic dilation or by use of inflation pressures > or = 11 psi. (3) All patients with a major complication were identified within 5 hr after dilation. (4) Complications following pneumatic dilation, if recognized and treated promptly, were not associated with adverse, long-term sequelae.