Linked Life Data

11117588

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/11117588

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
10
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-12-14
pubmed:abstractText
Achalasia presenting as acute airway obstruction is an uncommon complication. We report the case of an elderly woman with previously undiagnosed achalasia who presented with acute respiratory distress due to megaesophagus. Emergency endotracheal intubation and insertion of a catheter into the esophagus, with continuous aspiration was required. Upon introduction of the esophageal catheter an abruptand audible air decompression occurred, with marked improvement of the clinical picture. Endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin was chosen as the definitive treatment with good clinical result. The pathophysiology of the phenomenon of esophageal blowing in achalasia is unclear, but different hypothetical mechanisms have been suggested. One postulated mechanism is an increase in upper esophageal sphincter (UES) residual pressure or abnormal UES relaxation with swallowing in achalasia patients. We reviewed the UES manometric findings in 50 achalasia patients and compared it with measurement performed in 45 healthy controls. We did not find any abnormalities in UES function in any of our achalasia patients group, or in the case under study. An alternative hypothesis postulates that airway compromise in patients with achalasia results from the loss UES belch reflex (abnormal UES relaxation during esophageal air distension), and in fact, an abnormal UES belch reflex was evidenced in our case.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0163-2116
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
45
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2079-83
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Achalasia presenting as acute airway obstruction.
pubmed:affiliation
Digestive System Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports