Achalasia of the cardia: important information about the disease

To date, the list of the most common diseases are the pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Nervous disorders, malnutrition, climate, various infections - these are the main causes leading to diseases of this type.

One of the frequent pathologies of the stomach and intestines is cardiac achalasia, which relates to neuromuscular diseases of the esophagus. With this disease, there are changes in the passage of food masses along the esophagus itself and, accordingly, from the esophagus to the stomach. This is caused by violations of the peristalsis of the esophagus and the absence of a reflex opening only of the lower esophageal sphincter. The disease occurs in people of any age, but more often in the range of twenty to fifty years, both in men and in women.

Classification of the disease

The doctors identified 4 stages of the disease, characterized by various changes in the esophagus:

- Stage I is characterized by reversible temporary spasms of the cardia, not accompanied by an esophagus enlargement;

- Stage II is characterized by a stable expansion of the esophagus and an increase in the motility of its walls;

- at the III stage there is a stenosis of the cardia and a constant expansion of the esophagus with a disorder of its peristalsis and tone;

- at the IV stage, the end section of the esophagus receives irreversible lesions; Begins esophagitis and pereezophagitis.

Stages I and II last about a couple of months, the third stage is about ten to fifteen years, and the fourth to long decades.

Akhalasia cardia is also primary and secondary.

Causes of the disease

There are several hypotheses about the causes of the disease, however, in the medical community, the common denominator did not come. Presumptive reasons are:

- lack of vitamins of group B;

- changes and lesions in the parasympathetic nervous system;

- inflammation of the lymphatic system, lungs or mediastinum;

- stomach cancer, Chagas disease .

Achalasia of the cardia - symptoms:

- dysphagia or difficulty swallowing;

- regurgitation or movement of food masses in the opposite direction. This symptom is accompanied by vomiting;

Chest pain. In the I and II stages of pain are associated with spasms, and on III - IV with esophagitis;

- weakness, weight loss, disability.

How is the disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis of diseases using X-ray studies, esophagogastroscopy and passage of barium.

Achalasia cardia - treatment

The main goal of the treatment is to improve the patency of food in the esophagus and eliminate the underlying symptoms of the disease. This is done either with the help of surgical methods, or through medications.

Inadequacy of cardia treatment implies the following:

- sparing diet number 1 or no. 1a;

- fractional food, which implies the need to eat about five to six times a day, except for too cold or too hot dishes;

- Exclusion of alcohol and cigarettes;

- use of medications: Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide Dinitrate, Nifedipine, Novocaine, Atropine Sulphate, Spasmolytics, Botulinum toxin (injections), and others.

Treatment with medicines is not very effective, as it only temporarily blocks the symptoms of the disease. Surgery is more effective. Basically, it is used in parallel with drug treatment. Several surgical methods are used:

- pneumatic cardiodilation (expansion of the cardia with the help of dilators). The effect of this method is high - up to 80%;

- method of extrinsic cardiotomy for Geller (longitudinal dissection of the muscular membrane);

- balloon dilatation (special rupture of the fibers of the lower sphincter of the esophagus).

Certainly, the treatment is prescribed only by the doctor. And it depends on the complexity and type of disease.