Esophageal achalasia

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Esophageal achalasia
Other names: Cardiospasm,[1] esophageal aperistalsis,[1] megaesophagus,[1] achalasia cardiae, achalasia
A chest X-ray showing achalasia (arrows point to the outline of the massively dilated esophagus)
Pronunciation
SpecialtyThoracic surgery, general surgery
SymptomsDifficulty swallowing, regurgitation, chest pain[1]
ComplicationsWeight loss, aspiration pneumonia, esophageal cancer[1][3]
Usual onset25 to 60 yrs old[1]
CausesUnknown, Chagas disease, Down's, triple-A syndrome, achalasia microcephaly[4][5][6]
Diagnostic methodManometry, barium swallow, endoscopy[3]
Differential diagnosisGERD, esophageal cancer[6][4]
TreatmentMedications (nifedipine, botox), esophageal dilatation, surgery[3]
Frequency2.5 per 100,000[6]

Esophageal achalasia, often called simply achalasia, is a failure of the smooth muscle in the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and open.[3] Symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, and chest pain.[1] Onset is generally gradual.[1] Complications may include weight loss, aspiration pneumonia, and esophageal cancer.[1][3]

Generally the cause is unknown;[6] though some cases occur due to Chagas disease, Down's, triple-A syndrome, or achalasia microcephaly.[4][5] Some cases may occur within families.[1] The underlying mechanism is believed to involve failure of esophageal nerves resulting in abnormal contraction of the esophagus.[3][4] Diagnosis is supported by manometry, barium swallow, and endoscopy.[3] It is an esophageal motility disorder.[6]

A number of measures may improve the condition.[3] Options may include medications such as nifedipine or botox; procedures such as esophageal dilatation; and surgery such as a Heller myotomy or per-oral endoscopic myotomy.[3][7] Following surgery GERD may occur.[1]

Achalasia generally affects about 2 to 3 per 100,000 people.[6] Onset is usually in those 25 to 60 years old; most commonly around the age of 50.[1][4] Males and females are affected with similar frequency.[1] In Brazil the condition may affect as many as 0.8% of people due to Chagas disease.[6] The term is from the Greek a- meaning "lack" and -khalasis meaning "relaxation".[8]

Signs and symptoms

The main symptoms of achalasia are dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), regurgitation of undigested food, chest pain behind the sternum, and weight loss.[9] Dysphagia tends to become worse over time and to involve both fluids and solids. Some people may also experience coughing when lying horizontal.

The chest pain, also known as cardiospasm and non-cardiac chest pain can be mistaken for a heart attack. It can be extremely painful. Food and liquid, including saliva, are retained in the esophagus and may be inhaled into the lungs (aspiration).

Untreated, mid-stage achalasia can fully obstruct almost any food or liquid - the greater surface area of the swallowed object often being more difficult to pass the lower esophageal sphincter. At such a stage, upon swallowing food, it entirely remains in the esophagus, building up and stretching it to an extreme size in a phenomenon known as megaesophagus. If enough food builds up, it triggers a need to purge what was swallowed, often described as not being accompanied with nausea, but an intense - sometimes uncontrollable need to vomit what was built up in the esophagus, that due to the excessive stretching of the esophageal walls, is easily released without heaving. This cycle is so that little food reaches the small intestines, leading to progressive weight loss,starvation, and death.

Late-stage

End-stage achalasia, typified by a massively dilated and tortuous esophagus, may occur in people previously treated but where further dilatation or myotomy fails to relieve dysphagia or prevent nutritional deterioration, and oesophagectomy may be the only option. We describe two patients with end-stage achalasia and nutritional failure despite exhaustive conventional therapy including pneumatic dilatation and surgical myotomy. Both patients were successfully managed with transhiatal oesophagectomy and cervical gastro-esophageal anastomosis, with excellent symptomatic control and improved quality of life. These cases are discussed and the literature reviewed.[10]

End stage disease, characterised by a markedly dilated and tortuous "burned- out" oesophagus and recurrent obstructive symptoms, may require oesophageal resection in order to restore gastro-intestinal function, reverse nutritional deficits and reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia.[11][12][13]

Similar results with good symptom control were reported in 75–100% undergoing such a procedure. However, oesophagectomy is not without risk. Reported mortality rates of 5–10% are described, while morbidity rates of up to 50% have been reported, and anastomotic leak in 10–20%. Anastomotic stricture has been reported in up to 50%. Dumping syndrome, reported in up to 20% tends to be self-limiting and may be managed medically if necessary, and vagal-sparing oesophagectomy may reduce this risk.[14][15][16]

Mechanism

The cause of most cases is unknown.[17] LES pressure and relaxation are regulated by excitatory (e.g., acetylcholine, substance P) and inhibitory (e.g., nitric oxide, vasoactive intestinal peptide) neurotransmitters. People with achalasia lack noradrenergic, noncholinergic, inhibitory ganglion cells, causing an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. The result is a hypertensive nonrelaxed esophageal sphincter.[18]

Autopsy and myotomy specimens have, on histological examination, shown an inflammatory response consisting of CD3/CD8-positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes, variable numbers of eosinophils and mast cells, loss of ganglion cells, and neurofibrosis; these events appear to occur early in achalasia. Thus, it seems there is an autoimmune context to achalasia, most likely caused by viral triggers. Other studies suggest hereditary, neurodegenerative, genetic and infective contributions.[19]

Diagnosis

Specific tests for achalasia are barium swallow and esophageal manometry. In addition, endoscopy of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD), with or without endoscopic ultrasound, is typically performed to rule out the possibility of cancer.[20] The internal tissue of the esophagus generally appears normal in endoscopy, although a "pop" may be observed as the scope is passed through the non-relaxing lower esophageal sphincter with some difficulty, and food debris may be found above the LES.[citation needed]

Barium swallow

The person swallows a barium solution, with continuous fluoroscopy (X-ray recording) to observe the flow of the fluid through the esophagus. Normal peristaltic movement of the esophagus is not seen. There is acute tapering at the lower esophageal sphincter and narrowing at the gastro-esophageal junction, producing a "bird's beak" or "rat's tail" appearance. The esophagus above the narrowing is often dilated (enlarged) to varying degrees as the esophagus is gradually stretched over time.[20] An air-fluid margin is often seen over the barium column due to the lack of peristalsis. A five-minutes timed barium swallow can provide a useful benchmark to measure the effectiveness of treatment.[citation needed]

Esophageal manometry

Because of its sensitivity, manometry (esophageal motility study) is considered the key test for establishing the diagnosis. A catheter (thin tube) is inserted through the nose, and the patient is instructed to swallow several times. The probe measures muscle contractions in different parts of the esophagus during the act of swallowing. Manometry reveals failure of the LES to relax with swallowing and lack of functional peristalsis in the smooth muscle esophagus.[20]

Characteristic manometric findings are:[citation needed]

  • Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to relax upon wet swallow (<75% relaxation)
  • Pressure of LES <26 mm Hg is normal,>100 is considered achalasia, > 200 is nutcracker achalasia.
  • Aperistalsis in esophageal body
  • Relative increase in intra-esophageal pressure as compared with intra-gastric pressure

Biopsy

Biopsy, the removal of a tissue sample during endoscopy, is not typically necessary in achalasia but if performed shows hypertrophied musculature and absence of certain nerve cells of the myenteric plexus, a network of nerve fibers that controls esophageal peristalsis.[21] It is not possible to diagnose achalasia by means of biopsy alone.[22]

Differential diagnosis

Due to the similarity of symptoms, achalasia can be mistaken for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatus hernia, and psychosomatic disorders.

Treatment

Nifedipine under the tongue improves outcomes in 75% of people with mild or moderate disease. It was classically considered that surgical myotomy provided greater benefit than either botulinum toxin or dilation in those who fail medical management.[23] However, a recent randomized controlled trial found pneumatic dilation to be non-inferior to laparoscopic Heller myotomy.[24]

Lifestyle

Both before and after treatment, people may need to eat slowly, chew very well, drink plenty of water with meals, and avoid eating near bedtime. Raising the head off the bed or sleeping with a wedge pillow promotes emptying of the esophagus by gravity. After surgery or pneumatic dilatation, proton pump inhibitors are required to prevent reflux damage by inhibiting gastric acid secretion, and foods that can aggravate reflux, including ketchup, citrus, chocolate, alcohol, and caffeine, may need to be avoided. If untreated, acids can lead to Barrett's esophagus.[25]

Medication

Medications that reduce LES pressure are useful. These include calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine[23] and nitrates such as isosorbide dinitrate and nitroglycerin. However, many experience side effects such as headache and swollen feet, and these medications often stop helping after several months.[26]

Botulinum toxin (Botox) may be injected into the lower esophageal sphincter to paralyze the muscles holding it shut. As in the case of cosmetic Botox, the effect is only temporary and lasts about 6 months. Botox injections cause scarring in the sphincter which may increase the difficulty of later Heller myotomy. This therapy is recommended only for patients who cannot risk surgery, such as elderly people in poor health.[20] Pneumatic dilatation has a better long term effectiveness than botox.[27]

Dilatation

In balloon (pneumatic) dilation or dilatation, the muscle fibers are stretched and slightly torn by forceful inflation of a balloon placed inside the lower esophageal sphincter. There is always a small risk of a perforation which requires immediate surgical repair. Pneumatic dilatation causes some scarring which may increase the difficulty of Heller myotomy if the surgery is needed later. Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) occurs after pneumatic dilatation in many undergoing patients. Pneumatic dilatation is most effective in the long-term on patients over the age of 40; the benefits tend to be shorter-lived in younger patients due to the body's higher rate of recovery from trauma, often resulting in repeat procedures with larger balloons to achieve maximum effectiveness.[28] After multiple failures using pneumatic dilation, surgeries such as the more consistently successful Heller's Myotomy can be attempted instead.[citation needed]

Surgery

Image of a surgically removed esophagus due to late-stage Achalasia
Transhiatal oesophagectomy specimen from a patient with late-stage achalasia. Diverticulum at the left lower end of the oesophagus.

Heller myotomy helps 90% of people. It can usually be performed by a keyhole approach or laparoscopically.[29] The myotomy is a lengthwise cut along the esophagus, starting above the LES and extending down onto the stomach a little way. The esophagus is made of several layers, and the myotomy cuts only through the outside muscle layers which are squeezing it shut, leaving the inner mucosal layer intact.

Image of a stomach which has undergone Fundoplomy, where the Fundus, the upper part of the stomach (similar to the top part of a kidneybean) is wrapped around the attached esophagus and sewn back to the itself
Image of a stomach which has undergone Fundoplomy

A partial fundoplication or "wrap", where the fundus (Part of the stomach which hangs above the connection to the oesophagus) is wrapped around said lower oesophagus and sewn to itself, secured to the diaphragm to create pressure on the sphincter post-myotomy, is generally added in order to prevent excessive reflux, which can cause serious damage to the esophagus over time. After surgery, patients should keep to a soft diet for several weeks to a month, avoiding foods that can aggravate reflux.[30] The most recommended fundoplication to complement Heller myotomy is Dor fundoplication, which consists of a 180- to 200-degree anterior wrap around the esophagus. It provides excellent results as compared to Nissen's fundoplication, which is associated with higher incidence of postoperative dysphagia.[31]

The shortcoming of laparoscopic esophageal myotomy is the need for a fundoplication. On the one hand, the myotomy opens the esophagus, while on the other hand, the fundoplication causes an obstruction. Recent understanding of the gastroesophageal antireflux barrier/valve has shed light on the reason for the occurrence of reflux following myotomy. The gastroesophageal valve is the result of infolding of the esophagus into the stomach at the esophageal hiatus. This infolding creates a valve that extends from 7 o'clock to 4 o'clock (270 degrees) around the circumference of the esophagus. Laparoscopic myotomy cuts the muscle at the 12 o'clock position, resulting in incompetence of the valve and reflux. Recent robotic laparoscopic series have attempted a myotomy at the 5 o'clock position on the esophagus away from the valve. The robotic lateral esophageal myotomy preserves the esophageal valve and does not result in reflux, thereby obviating the need for a fundoplication. The robotic lateral esophageal myotomy has had the best results to date in terms of the ability to eat without reflux.[citation needed]

Endoscopic myotomy

A new endoscopic therapy for achalasia management was developed in 2008 in Japan.[32] Per-oral endoscopic myotomy or POEM is a minimally invasive type of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery that follows the same principle as the Heller myotomy. A tiny incision is made on the esophageal mucosa through which an endoscope is inserted. The innermost circular muscle layer of the esophagus is divided and extended through the LES until about 2 cm into the gastric muscle. Since this procedure is performed entirely through the patient's mouth, there are no visible scars on the patient's body.[citation needed]

Patients usually spend about 1–4 days in the hospital and are discharged after satisfactory examinations. Patients are discharged on full diet and generally able to return to work and full activity immediately upon discharge.[33] Major complications are rare after POEM and are generally managed without intervention. Long term patient satisfaction is similar following POEM compared to standard laparoscopic Heller myotomy.[34]

POEM has been performed on over 1,200 patients in Japan and is becoming increasingly popular internationally as a first-line therapy in patients with achalasia.[35]

Monitoring

Even after successful treatment of achalasia, swallowing may still deteriorate over time. The esophagus should be checked every year or two with a timed barium swallow because some may need pneumatic dilatations, a repeat myotomy, or even esophagectomy after many years. In addition, some physicians recommend pH testing and endoscopy to check for reflux damage, which may lead to a premalignant condition known as Barrett's esophagus or a stricture if untreated.

Epidemiology

Incidence of achalasia has risen to approximately 1.6 per 100,000 in some populations. Disease affects mostly adults between ages 30s and 50s.[36]

History

  • In 1672, the English physician Sir Thomas Willis, one of the founders of the Royal Society first described the condition now known as Achalasia and treated the problem with a dilation using a sea sponge attached to a whale bone.
  • In 1881, the German Polish-Austrian physician Johann Freiherr von Mikulicz-Radecki described the disease as cardiospasm, and felt it was a functional problem rather than a mechanical one.
  • In 1913, Ernest Heller became the first person to successfully perform an esophagomyotomy, now known in his namesake as the Heller myotomy.[37]
  • In 1929, two physicians - Hurt and Rake - figured out that the problem was due to the LES not relaxing. They named the disease Achalasia, meaning inability to relax.
  • In 1937, F.C. Lendram affirmed the conclusions of Hurt and Rake, forwarding the term Achalasia over Cardiospasm. (Hard to say who really changed the name between the last two entries In 1937, the physician F.C. Lendram affirmed the conclusions of Hurt and Rake in 1929, forwarding the usage of the term Achalasia over Cardiospasm.
  • In 1955, the German physician Dr. Rudolf Nissen, a student of Ferdinand Sauerbruch, performs the first fundoplomy, now known in his namesake as the Nissen fundoplication, eventually publishing the results of two cases in a 1956 copy of Swiss Medical Weekly.[38][39]
  • In 1962, the physician Dor reports the first anterior partial fundoplication,[40] acting as a solution to the intense post-surgery GERD, and risk of stomach acid inhalation accompanying Heller myotomy.
  • In 1963, the physician Toupet reports first posterior partial fundoplication.[41]
  • In 1991, the physician Shimi and his colleagues perform the first Laproscopic Heller's in England
  • In 1994, Paricha et al. introduces Botox as a method for reducing LES pressure.  [42]
  • In 2008, the newest method of surgically treating achalasia, the Per-oral endoscopic myotomy, was devised by Dr. H. Inoue in Tokyo, Japan.[43] This method is currently considered experimental in many countries such as the United States.

Society and culture

Terminology

Without a modifier, "achalasia" usually refers to achalasia of the esophagus. Achalasia can happen at various points along the gastrointestinal tract; achalasia of the rectum, for instance, may occur in Hirschsprung's disease.

Notable cases

Planetary scientist Carl Sagan had achalasia from the age of 18.[44] The Zambian government announced that the President of Zambia Edgar Lungu has achalasia, bearing symptoms that sometimes occur during official engagements, in particular lightheadedness.[45]

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