1. College of Nursing and midwifery
Department of Adult health nursing
Individual Seminar presentation on
Disorder of Easophagus
By Amensisa Debesa (ID 176/15)
Presented to Mr Tadele k. (Assistant
professor)
Salale Ethiopia
Sep 20/2023
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2. OUTLINE
ď Objective
ď Introduction
ďDefinition of esophagus Function & disorder
ďPathologic condition of Esophagus:
Achalasia
Hiatal hernia
GERD
Esophageal Varices
Esophagities
Esophageal cancer
ď Summary
ďAchnowlegment
ď Referance
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3. Objectives
ď After the end of our sessetion we able:
ď To underst anatomy & physiology of esophagus.
ď Explain the types of esophageal disorder.
ď To know the pathology of each disorder.
ď Describe the management of esophageal disorder.
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4. INTRODUCTION
ď¸Anathomy &Physiology of Esophagus:
ď¸The esophagus extends from the oropharynx to
the stomach.
ď¸At the top of the esophagus is the upper
esophageal sphincter (UES).
⢠This prevent the influx of air into the esophagus
during respiration.
ď¸At the bottom of the esophagus is the lower
esophageal sphincter (LES) to prevent the reflux of
acid from the stomach into the esophagus.
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5. ContâŚ
ďś Esophagus has two main functions:
1- Transport of food by peristalsis
2- Prevention of gastric regurgitation by LES/UES
- It is supplied by the vagus nerve & sympathetic trunk.
- Dysphagia is sensation of obstruction of food passage
or Difficulty in swallowing, has mechanical and
neuromuscular causes.
- Odynophagia is painful swallowing.
- Both dysphagia and odynophagia will result in weight
loss, eventually.
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6. Disorders of the Esophagus
ďśDYSPHAGIA
ďIt is a difficulty of swallowing and is the most common
symptom of esophageal disease.
ďThis symptom may vary from an uncomfortable feeling in
the upper esophagus to acute pain on swallowing
(odynophagia).
ďObstruction of food and even liquids may occur anywhere
along the esophagus.
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7. Pathologic Condition of Esophagus
ďśOften the patient can indicate where the
problem is located in the esophagus.
ďśPathologic conditions of the esophagus,
includes :
ď¸Motility disorders (achalasia, diffuse spasm)
ď¸Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD)
ď¸Hiatal hernias
ď¸Esophagits
ď¸Perforation
ď¸Foreign bodies
ď¸Chemical burns
ď¸Benign tumors and carcinoma.
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8. ACHALASIA
ďŚAchalasia is absent or ineffective peristalsis of the distal
esophagus,
ďŚIt is accompanied by failure of the esophageal sphincter
to relax in response to swallowing.
ďŚEpidemologically Achalasia may progress slowly and
occurs most comman in people 40 years of age or older.
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9. Ethiology
ďPrimary (idiopathic)
ďDegeneration and loss of ganglion cells cause a
defect in the innervations of the esophagus
ďResulting absence of complete LES relaxation and
absence of peristalsis
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10. Clinical manifestation
ďDifficulty in swallowing both liquids and solids.
ďSensation of food sticking in the lower portion of the
esophagus.
ďFood regurgitation( commonly in advanced stage).
ďWeight loss can be a late manifestation
ďChest pain and heartburn (pyrosis).
ďPain may or may not be associated with eating.
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11. Treatment
ďThere is no curative treatment for achalasia
ďThe aim is to decrease the LES pressure either
chemically(medications) or mechanically (by
forceful stretching) .
ďSmooth muscle relaxants such as
⢠Calcium channel blockers and
⢠Nitrates, have been used with limited
success.
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12. CONTâŚ
Ex. Nifedipine, 10â20 mg, or isosorbide
dinitrate, 5â10 mg solution
Forceful dilation of the LES using balloons,
pneumatic (forceful) dilation
Pneumatic dilation has a high success rate
Is effective in 85%cases , with 3â5% risk of
perforation or bleeding.
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14. Nursing care of ptâs with achalasia
ďThe patient should be instructed to eat slowly and to
drink fluids with meals
ďSemisoft ,warm foods are better tolerated than cold,
hard foods ,the client should avoid hot, iced foods as
well as alcohol and tobacco.
ďAll foods should be chewed thoroughly to add saliva
to mixture, providing lubrication and allowing the
bolus to pass more easily.
ďTo prevent nocturnal reflux of food the client should
sleep with head of the bed elevated.
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15. HIATAL HERNIA
⢠Some times also known as a diaphragmatic or
esophageal hernia.
⢠A part of the stomach protrudes up through the
diaphragm near the esophagus into the chest.
⢠Patients may be asymptomatic or have daily
symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease
(GERD).
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16. CONTâŚ
Hiatal hernia
Is characterized by separation of the diaphragmatic crura and
widening of the space between the muscular crura and
esophageal wall
Two patterns:
ďś Sliding hiatal hernia
-constitutes 90% of the cases
-is protrusion of the stomach above the diaphragm creating a
bell shaped dilation
ďś Paraesophageal(Rolling) hiatal hernia:
-a separate portion of the stomach usually along the greater
curvature enters the thorax
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18. CONTâŚ
⢠The hernia may be:
ďś A sliding hiatal hernia:- is known as type I hernia.
ďAccounts about 90% of total hiatal hernia
ďAllows movement of the upper portion of the stomach
including the lower esophageal sphincter up and down
through the diaphragm.(not intact)
ďThese patients typically have symptoms of GERD.
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19. CONTâŚ
ďśEtiology. The actual cause of sliding h/hernia is
unknown(idiopatic).
ďśPredisposing factors
ďStructural changes, such as weakening of the
muscles in the diaphragm around the
esophagogastric opening
ďFactors that increase intraabdominal pressure:
e.g Obesity, pregnancy, ascites, tumors, tight corsets,
intense physical exertion and heavy lifting on a
continual basis
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20. ContâŚ
ďśOther predisposing factors are:
ďIncreased age
ďTrauma
ďPoor nutrition and
ďA forced recumbent position
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21. CONTâŚ
ďś Clinical manifestation(a sliding of hiatal hernia)
ďźIn sliding hernia 50% patients are asymptomatic
ďźHeart burn, Regurgitation
ďźDysphagia, symptoms of reflux
ďźSubsternal pain, burning, non radiating,
ďźposition dependent epigastric pain,
ďźsubsternal tightness
ďźSymptoms may be exacerbated by gastric
irritants(alcohol, tobacco, caffeine)
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22. CONTâŚ
ďś B rolling hernia:- known as Paraesophageal (type
II) hernia.
ďPortion of the stomach separation up through the
diaphragm, but the lower esophageal sphincter
area remains below the level of the diaphragm.
ďThese patients do not generally suffer from
reflux.
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23. Clinical Manifestations
ďA sense of fullness after eating
ďDoes not have symptoms of reflux
ďChest pain
ďReflux usually does not occur, because the
gastroesophageal sphincter is intact.
⢠Complication for both (type I and II)
ď Hemorrhage, obstruction, and strangulation can occur
with any type of hernia.
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24. Nursing Management
ďFrequent, small feedings that can pass easily through the
esophagus.
ďNo food intake several hours before bed
ďWeight reduction
ďSleep with head at 300
ďAvoid gastric irritants, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine
ďRegular use of anti acids
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25. CONTâŚ
ďThe patient is advised not to recline for 1 hour after eating,
to prevent reflux or movement of the hernia,
ďElevate the head of the bed 10- to 20-cm blocks to prevent
the hernia from sliding upward.
ďAvoid lifting and straining
ďIf overweight, the patient should be encourage to lose
weight
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26. GERD
ďś Condition involving LES weakness and
inappropriate opening, leading to reflux of
gastric contents into the esophagus.
ďś GERD may occur when the pressure of the
high-pressure zone in the distal esophagus is
too low to prevent gastric contents from
entering the esophagus (when the LES is
NOT contracting well).
ďś Very common condition that affects
approximately 20% of adults.
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27. Risk factors
⢠Increased body mass index(BMI)
⢠Dietary factors
⢠Anatomical condition(ex.hiatal hernia).
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29. Classic GERD: burning, agrev. With position
Complicated GERD: Odynophagia, dyspahagia.
Extra esophegeal GERD: pulmonary, ENT, others
Diagnosis. Ambulatory pH monitoring (gold standard)
-Barium Swallow
-Endoscopy
Treatment:
Lifestyle Modifications #1
-Acid Suppression
-Anti-Reflux Surgery
-Endoscopic AntirefluxTherapies
Symptoms
ContâŚ
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30. Esophageal varices
⢠Collaterals that develop in the region of the lower
esophagus during portal hypertension
⢠The increased pressure in the esophageal plexus
produces dilated tortuous(twisted) vessels called
varices
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32. CONTâŚ
⢠Varices develop in 90% of cirrhotic patients and
are most often associated with alcoholic cirrhosis
⢠Schistosomiasis is the second most common cause
⢠Variceal rupture produces massive hemorrhage
⢠Clinically varices produce no symptoms until they
rupture
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33. Diagnosis
⢠CBC, PT, PTT, LFT
⢠Esophago Gastro Duodenoscopy
⢠EGD
RX: Decrease blood flow
put on rubber band around enlarged vein.
Relieving portal HT
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34. Esophagitis
ďCondition involving inflammation of the
esophagus.
Reflux esophagitis
ďreflux of gastric contents into the lower esophagus
is the first and foremost cause of esophagitis
Associated causative factors
ď decreased efficacy of esophageal antireflux
mechanisms
ď presence of a sliding hiatal hernia
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35. CONTâŚ
ďinadequate or slowed esophageal clearance of
refluxed material
ďdelayed gastric emptying
ďreduction in the reparative capacity of the
esophageal mucosa
Morphologic changes include
-simple hyperemia
-inflammatory infiltrate
-basal zone hyperplasia
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38. ContâŚ
⢠Complications
⢠Bleeding& perforation
⢠Stricture
⢠Fistulas
ďśDiagnosis:
⢠History and patient characteristics
⢠Endoscopy with biopsy (Gold standard) -barium
swallow
⢠24 hour pH monitoring and motility
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39. CONTâŚ
ďśTreatment: based on etiology
⢠Proton pump inhibitors(ex.pantoprazole)
⢠Antireflux like Lifestyle modification.
⢠Acid suppressing agent.
⢠Surgery
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40. Esophageal Cancer
ďś Disease more in Males > 50 Years.
ďś Causation factors:
1) Excess alcohol
2) Cigarette smoking
3)Fungal toxin.- Mucosal damage: A) Hot tea B) Radiation
induced stricture C) Barrettâs esophagus
4) Esophageal web.- 15% affect the upper â , 45% affect the
middle â , 40% affect the lower â .
There are two pathologic types: squamous cell carcinoma
(>75% of cases) and adenocarcinoma
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41. ďś Dysphagia
ďś Weight loss
ďś Odynophagia (pain with swallowin
ďś Tracheoesophageal or Broncho-esophageal fistula
(The tumor penetrates through the esophagus)
ďś Regurgitation
ďś Anorexia
ďś Aspiration pneumonia
ďś Chest pain
ďś Hematemesis, hoarseness of voice (recurrent
laryngeal nerve involvement)
Clinical features
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42. 1 Barium swallow useful in evaluation of dysphagia.
2. Upper endoscopy with biopsy
3. After confirming the diagnosis of esophageal
cancer by endoscopy with biopsy, Transesophageal
Ultrasound helps determine the depth of penetration
of the tumor and is the most reliable test for staging
local cancer.
4. Full metastatic workup (e.g., CT scan of
chest/abdomen, CXR).
Diagnosis
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43. Treatment
1. Palliative care is the goal in most patients
because the disease is usually advanced at
presentation.
2. Surgery (esophagectomy) if localized may be
curative for patients with disease in stage 0, 1,
3. Chemotherapy
4. Radiation therapy
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45. ACKNOWLEDGEMEN
Next to Almaight my God I would like to acknowledge
our instructor Mr.Tadele K . (Assistant professors) for
give us the opportunity of doing this individual
assignment, which has given us an extensive
knowledge on Disorder of Esophagus.
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46. Referance
⢠Levine MS, Rubesin SE, Herlinger H, Laufer I. Double-
contrast upper gastrointestinal examination: technique and
interpretation. Radiology 1988;168:593â602.
⢠Ott DJ, Chen YM, Hewson EG, et al. Esophageal motility:
assessment with synchronous video tape fluoroscopy and
manometry. Radiology 1989;173:419â422
⢠Levine MS, Woldenberg R, Herlinger H,
Laufer I. Opportunistic esophagitis in AIDS: radiographic
diagnosis. Radiology1987;165:815â820
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