Oesophagus

CUSP Stands for Comprehensive United Surgical Practice.

Cancer Surgeon

What Are Oesophageal Disorders?

The oesophagus in the human body is a muscular tube that extends from the neck to the abdomen and connects the throat (pharynx) to the stomach. The disorder that occurs in this food pipe is termed as oesophageal disorders. Some of the most common oesophageal disorders include:

  • Achalasia
  • POEM
  • Barrett’s Oesophagus
  • Oesophageal Cancer
  • GERD
  • Peptic Stricture
  • Web, rings and diverticula

Symptoms Of Oesophageal Disorders

The common symptoms of that lead to Oesophageal disorders include:

  • Heartburn
  • Chest pain
  • Dysphagia (Difficulty swallowing both liquids and solids)
  • Globus
  • Regurgitation
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • A typical discomfort in the chest
  • Vomiting
  • A sensation of something getting stuck in the food pipe

Causes Of Oesophageal Disorders

The cause of oesophageal disorders is still unknown to doctors. However, they are a type of motility disorders that involves the problem associated with the contraction of the muscles in the food pipe. The muscles in the oesophagus aim at squeezing together to move contents from the mouth to the rest of the gastrointestinal (GI) system.

If you have any kind of oesophageal disorders than the brain send a faulty signal to the muscles in your oesophagus and they may contract before you swallow something.

Your risk of developing oesophageal disorders is high if you:

  • Are overweight
  • Drink too much alcohol
  • Smoke
  • Eat spicy, fatty or acidic food on a regular basis
  • Have a hiatus hernia

Diagnosing Oesophageal Disorders

There are three most common test uses to diagnose and evaluate oesophageal disorders:

  • Barium swallow: The patient has to swallow a barium preparation (liquid or another form) and its movement through the oesophagus is evaluated with the use of an X-ray.
  • Endoscopy: In this process, an endoscope (flexible, narrow tube) is passed into the oesophagus and the inside image of the oesophagus is projected onto a screen.
  • Manometry: This test is performed to measure the strength and timing of
    • Contractions of oesophagus
    • Relaxation of the lower oesophagal sphincter (valve)

Treatments For Oesophageal Disorders

MEDICATION:

At the time of early diagnosis, medicines such as nitrates or nifedipine can help dilate the narrowed part of the oesophagus and relax the muscle thereby providing a smooth passage to food inside the stomach.

The use of medicine provides a short term relief and helps ease the symptoms. If the condition is serious then a patient might have to go for a more permanent treatment.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY (MIS):

For patients with severe oesophageal disorders, a minimally invasive surgical technique called laparoscopic oesophagomyotomy or the Heller Myotomy is used as a treatment approach. Under MIS, a surgeon use endoscope which is a thin, telescopic-like instrument which is inserted into the patient’s body by making a short incision. The endoscope has a tiny video camera-smaller than its dimension connected on its top, which projects a view of the operative site onto video monitors located in the operating room. The MIS offer a patient with many benefits like:

  • Quick Recovery
  • Short Hospital stay
  • Lesser scarring than traditional procedures
  • Low to zero complication
  • No risk of infection
  • Less blood loss

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