Esophageal Dysphagia (Dysphagia, Esophageal; Difficulty Swallowing [Esophagus])
What is esophageal dysphagia?
Esophageal dysphagia means difficulty in swallowing. Esophageal dysphagia occurs, if the cause of problems with swallowing is a problem with the esophagus. Пищевод – мышечная трубка, through which food passes from the throat to the stomach.
Дисфагия пищевода – причины
By the occurrence of esophageal dysphagia can cause a number of diseases:
- Ахалазия – влияет на мышцы в нижней части пищевода;
- Склеродермия – вызывает утолщение и ужесточение тканей, joints and organs; can lead to problems with the muscles of the esophagus;
- Стриктуры пищевода – вызывает сужение пищевода;
- Tumors of the esophagus;
- Infectious esophagitis;
- The burn of the esophagus;
- Foreign bodies in the esophagus;
- Eosinophilic esophagitis.
Risk factors for esophageal dysphagia
Factors, which can increase the risk of esophageal dysphagia include:
- Advanced age;
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
- Cancer;
- Radiation therapy;
- Diseases of the respiratory tract or cardiovascular disorders, such as stroke;
- Operation, eg, fundoplikaciâ;
- Premature birth;
- Taking certain medications, which may affect the functioning of the esophagus.
Дисфагия пищевода – симптомы
Symptoms may include esophageal dysphagia:
- Difficulty swallowing solids, fluids;
- The feeling of being stuck in the esophagus food;
- Pain when swallowing;
- Heartburn, belching;
- Coughing or choking while eating or drinking;
- Drooling;
- Breathlessness, hoarse voice;
- Weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration due to problems with food and fluid intake.
Diagnosis of esophageal dysphagia
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination.
To evaluate the swallowing function, It can be carried out the following studies:
- Testing swallowing function, to see, what happens when swallowing;
- Videorentgenoskopiya swallowing.
To inspect the throat can be used:
- Endoscopy;
- Бариевое рентгеноконтрастное исследование – бариевая каша.
It can be tested muscle strength of the esophagus. For these purposes is used esophageal motility study.
Дисфагия пищевода – лечение
Esophageal dysphagia Treatment depends on the cause of its occurrence and may include a:
- Procedures, such as:
- Расширение пищевода – введение в пищевод устройства в виде трубки, to expand the narrow part;
- Botox injections into the muscles of the esophagus, to facilitate swallowing;
- Operation;
- Диетические изменения – возможно, We need to avoid the consumption of certain products, which cause problems with swallowing. You may need to eat only pureed. In severe cases, it may be necessary accommodation feeding tube, to allow the flow of nutrients into the body;
- Терапия для улучшения глотания – обучение способам предотвращения удушья во время еды;
- Medication.
Дисфагия пищевода – профилактика
You can reduce the risk of esophageal dysphagia, starting at an early stage treatment of any disease associated with the esophagus, eg, Row.