Korean Journal of Gastrointestinal Motility  2001;7(2):227-232

A Case of Nutcracker Esophagus Associated with Chest Pain and Antidepressant Treatment.

Suck Chei CHOI 1 ; Sang Yeol LEE ; Ji Hun CHOI ; Mi Ryeong SIM ; Joo Jin YEOM ; Jung Hyeon PARK ; Tae Hyeon KIM ; Yong Ho NAH

Affiliations

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Keywords

Chest pain; Nutcracker esophagus; Antidepressant

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Nutcracker esophagus is thought to be a common cause of noncardiac chest pain although has not been clearly established, and the effective treatment is lacking. The usual forms of therapy for noncardiac chest pain by nutcracker esophagus have been directed traditionally toward reducing esophageal hypermotility and muscle tone such as nitrate and calcium channel blocker. However, the results of this treatment in the long term care of patient with esophageal symptoms have been generally disappointing and often unsatisfactory. Recently, psychosomatic aspect of esophageal motility disorder including antidepressant treatment has been accepted in the treatment of noncardiac chest pain. We report a 48 year old female with nutcracker esophagus associated chest pain by ambulatory 24 hour esophageal manometry who failed diagnosis by conventional manometry. The symptoms of chest pain, quality of life, and depression of the patient were improved after antidepressant medication.