Humans ; Esophageal Achalasia/genetics* ; Cardia ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins

OBJECTIVES: At present, there are many reports about the treatment of cricopharyngeal achalasia by injecting botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) into cricopharyngeal muscle guided by ultrasound, electromyography or CT in China, but there is no report about injecting BTX-A into cricopharyngeal muscle guided by endoscope. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic BTX-A injection combined with balloon dilatation in the treatment of cricopharyngeal achalasia after brainstem stroke, and to provide a better method for the treatment of dysphagia after brainstem stroke. METHODS: From June to December 2022, 30 patients with cricopharyngeal achalasia due to brainstem stroke were selected from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Hospital of Changsha. They were randomly assigned into a control group and a combined group, 15 patients in each group. Patients in both groups were treated with routine rehabilitation therapy, while patients in the control group were treated with balloon dilatation, and patients in the combined group were treated with balloon dilatation and BTX-A injection. Before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment, the patients were examined by video fluoroscopic swallowing study, Penetration-aspiration Scale (PAS), Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS), and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) were used to assess the swallowing function. RESULTS: In the combined group, 1 patient withdrew from the treatment because of personal reasons. Two weeks after treatment, the scores of DOSS, PAS, and FOIS in both groups were better than those before treatment (all P<0.01), and the combined group was better than the control group (all P<0.001). The effective rate was 85.7% in the combined group and 66.7% in the control group, with no significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS BTX-A injection combined with balloon dilatation is more effective than balloon dilatation alone in improving swallowing function and is worthy of clinical application.
Humans ; Deglutition Disorders/therapy* ; Esophageal Achalasia/drug therapy* ; Dilatation/adverse effects* ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A/therapeutic use* ; Brain Stem Infarctions/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Esophageal Achalasia/surgery* ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Muscles ; Myotomy ; Tissue Adhesions

No abstract available.
Esophageal Achalasia ; Prospective Studies

No abstract available.
Esophageal Achalasia* ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP) is a modality that enables clinicians to measure volume-controlled distension of the esophagus. This study aimed to assess the utility of EndoFLIP in patients who had achalasia treated with peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). We hypothesized that improvement in the distensibility index (DI) is correlated with the postoperative clinical outcome of POEM. METHODS: Patients who underwent POEM for achalasia at Cha Bundang Medical Center were included. Physiological measurements of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure before and after POEM were assessed using EndoFLIP. Patients’ symptoms were recorded using the Eckardt score. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients with achalasia were included in this study. Patients with a post-POEM DI below 7 (30 or 40 mL) had a significantly higher rate of incomplete response after POEM (p=0.001). Changes in LES pressure or integrated relaxation pressure after POEM were also significantly associated with an incomplete response (p=0.026 and p=0.016, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that post-POEM DI < 7 was the most important predictor of an incomplete response after POEM (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Lower post-POEM DI values were associated with an incomplete post-POEM response. Therefore, post-POEM DI at the esophagogastric junction using EndoFLIP is a useful index for predicting the clinical outcome of POEM in patients with achalasia.
Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Relaxation ; Treatment Outcome

Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus that is characterized by loss of ganglionic neurons within the myenteric plexus of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resulting in failure of the LES to relax. Clinically this disorder presents with simultaneous dysphagia to solids and liquids, and if left untreated, leads to esophageal dilation, which can give rise to many adverse consequences. Extrinsic compression of respiratory structures is one such consequence, and rarely, cases of tracheal compression secondary to achalasia have been reported. However, cases of extrinsic bronchial compression are yet rarer. Here, we present a case series comprised of two patients with achalasia who presented with extrinsic bronchial compression by a dilated esophagus secondary to achalasia.
Airway Obstruction ; Cardia ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagus ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Myenteric Plexus ; Neurons

The aim of this study was to determine predictive risk factors implicated in complications in dogs with esophageal foreign bodies. Medical records of 72 dogs diagnosed with esophageal foreign bodies by endoscopy were reviewed retrospectively. Factors analyzed included age; breed; gender; body weight, location, dimension, and type of foreign body; and duration of impaction. To identify risk factors associated with complications after foreign body ingestion, categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact tests and multivariate analysis, as appropriate. Complications secondary to esophageal foreign body ingestion included megaesophagus, esophagitis, perforation, laceration, diverticulum, and pleuritis. Univariate analysis revealed that the location and duration of impaction after foreign body ingestion were associated with an increased risk of esophageal laceration and perforation. Multivariate analysis showed that age, duration of impaction, and foreign body dimension were significant independent risk factors associated with the development of complications in dogs with esophageal foreign bodies. In conclusion, these results showed that longer duration of impaction and larger foreign body dimensions may increase the risks of esophageal laceration, perforation, and plueritis in dogs.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Diverticulum ; Diverticulum, Esophageal ; Dogs ; Eating ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagitis ; Foreign Bodies ; Lacerations ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pleurisy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus characterized by absence of peristalsis and failure of relaxation of lower esophagus sphincter. The introduction of high resolution manometry (HRM) and per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has made a new chapter in diagnosis and treatment of achalasia. HRM allows classify according to the subtype of achalasia, and help predict prognosis and therapeutic response. POEM is a minimally invasive, effective option for treating achalasia. The management of achalasia required tailored application of various therapies such as botox injection, pneumatic balloon dilatation, POEM, or Heller's myotomy. In this review, we state the important aspects of diagnosis as well as management of achalasia.
Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophagus ; Manometry ; Peristalsis ; Prognosis ; Relaxation

With the advances in technology and medical knowledge, new diseases are being identified and investigated. Esophageal motility disorders have been re-defined using high-resolution manometry and their pathogenesis are being better understood. The use of opioid analgesics is increasing worldwide, particularly in the United States, but their chronic use can cause opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction, which mimics spastic motor disorders, including achalasia type 3 or 2 and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction. Eosinophilic esophagitis is identified by eosinophilic infiltration confirmed on a pathological examination. The condition is often associated with esophageal motility abnormalities. On the other hand, recent studies have suggested that muscle-predominant eosinophilic infiltration, eosinophilic esophageal myositis, might manifest as spastic motor disorders, including achalasia or jackhammer esophagus. Lymphocytic esophagitis is an unusual esophageal condition, which is confirmed by the increased number of lymphocytes in the esophageal epithelium. Although several reports have supported the existence of lymphocytic esophagitis, it is still unclear whether lymphocytic esophagitis is a distinct disease entity or another spectrum of other esophageal diseases, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or eosinophilic esophagitis. This review presents evidence and reports on the emerging issues in esophageal motility disorders, including opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction, eosinophilic esophagitis with eosinophilic esophageal myositis, and lymphocytic esophagitis.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Eosinophilic Esophagitis ; Eosinophils ; Epithelium ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Diseases ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophagitis ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hand ; Lymphocytes ; Manometry ; Motor Disorders ; Muscle Spasticity ; Myositis ; United States