Webs, Rings and Diverticula

The disorder that occurs in this food pipe is termed as oesophageal disorders

Cancer Surgeon

WHAT ARE WEB, RINGS AND DIVERTICULA?

An oesophageal web is similar to an “o” ring of a washer. It is a thin, membranous fold of tissue that can develop at any level in the oesophagus and cause a problem in swallowing food. Usually, the doctor uses both words rings and web to describe the same structure. Rings are primarily thicker than webs and involve more of the wall of the oesophagus. These structures are responsible for narrowing the oesophagus and may lead to its full or partial blockage.

On the other hand, oesophageal diverticula are outpocketings of one or more layers of the oesophageal wall. It arises due to abnormal motility of the oesophagus.

SYMPTOMS OF WEB, RINGS AND DIVERTICULA

People suffering from oesophageal web & rings may experience the following signs and symptoms:

  • Dysphagia – difficulty swallowing solid foods
  • A sore tongue
  • Cracks around the corners of the mouth
  • Nasopharyngeal reflux

Sign and symptoms of diverticula include

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Gurgling in the throat
  • Regurgitation
  • Inhalation of retained liquids or food

CAUSES OF WEB, RINGS AND DIVERTICULA

According to the doctors, there are several factors that are responsible for the formation of the oesophageal web, rings and diverticula are usually:

  • Iron deficiency anemia / Plummer-Vinson syndrome
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Inherited or passed down genetically from parents to children
  • Developmental abnormalities
  • Inflammation
  • Autoimmune disorders

DIAGNOSING WEB, RINGS AND DIVERTICULA

The common tests used at the hospital to diagnose and evaluate oesophageal web, rings and diverticula include:

  • Barium Swallow Test: 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.
  • Upper Endoscopy: It is a test performed to obtain the inside of the oesophagus and stomach using a thin, flexible endoscope having a tiny camera on its top.

TREATMENTS FOR WEB, RINGS AND DIVERTICULA

Our team of doctors offers the best treatment for oesophageal web, rings and diverticula. Some of the major treatment approaches we follow include:

Treatments for Iron Deficiency Anemia

It varies according to the severity and cause of anemia. Some treatments include:

  • Iron Supplements
  • Intravenous (IV) Iron Therapy: It is a process of delivering iron into your body intravenously, by injecting iron directly into the veins. It is specially designed for those who can’t take iron supplements through the mouth.

Oesophageal Dilation

Also termed as stretching, oesophageal dilation is one of the preferred treatment options. It involves the use of an endoscope to see the structured area and place the place a dilator into the oesophagus under general sedation. This dilator is a long thin tube that has a balloon attached on its tip, which inflates and to stretch out the webbed or ringed part of your esophagus. Thereby, helps in relieving from the symptoms of the disease.

Endoscopic Procedures

  • Endoscopic Laser Division: It is used to remove the oesophageal web in a child or adults. It is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed when dilation fails to work.
  • Electrocautery: It is a thermal process used to remove the web by using direct or alternating current that is passed into the living tissue through a resistant metal wire electrode that generates heat. This helps in tissue destruction and treating the symptoms of the diseases.

Surgery

It is usually considered as a treatment option when all the above mentioned treatment fails to work. The doctor evaluates the patient’s condition before performing oesophagoscopy under general sedation. The doctors use a thin, flexible tube known as oesophagoscope to perform the surgery.

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