eMedicine Specialties > Gastroenterology > Esophagus

Esophageal Spasm: Multimedia

Author: Alan BR Thomson, MD, MSc, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 26, 2009

Multimedia

Barium swallow demonstrates diffuse uncoordinated...Media file 1: Barium swallow demonstrates diffuse uncoordinated contractions of the esophagus in a patient with diffuse esophageal spasm.
Barium swallow demonstrates diffuse uncoordinated...

Barium swallow demonstrates diffuse uncoordinated contractions of the esophagus in a patient with diffuse esophageal spasm.

This is normal esophageal manometry tracing with ...Media file 2: This is normal esophageal manometry tracing with normal amplitude of the contractions. The contractions are coordinated because the contractions in the proximal esophagus (top of image) occur before the contractions further distal in the esophagus.
This is normal esophageal manometry tracing with ...

This is normal esophageal manometry tracing with normal amplitude of the contractions. The contractions are coordinated because the contractions in the proximal esophagus (top of image) occur before the contractions further distal in the esophagus.

Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates diffuse...Media file 3: Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates diffuse esophageal spasm. Note the multiple uncoordinated contractions in the third tracing from the distal esophagus.
Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates diffuse...

Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates diffuse esophageal spasm. Note the multiple uncoordinated contractions in the third tracing from the distal esophagus.

Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates nutcrac...Media file 4: Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates nutcracker esophagus. Note the excessive amplitude of the contractions.
Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates nutcrac...

Esophageal manometry tracing demonstrates nutcracker esophagus. Note the excessive amplitude of the contractions.

More on Esophageal Spasm

Overview: Esophageal Spasm
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Esophageal Spasm
Treatment & Medication: Esophageal Spasm
Follow-up: Esophageal Spasm
Multimedia: Esophageal Spasm
References
Further Reading

References

  1. Smout AJ. Advances in esophageal motor disorders. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. Jul 2008;24(4):485-9. [Medline].

  2. Almansa C, Hinder RA, Smith CD, Achem SR. A comprehensive appraisal of the surgical treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm. J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 2008;12(6):1133-45. [Medline].

  3. Grubel C, Borovicka J, Schwizer W, Fox M, Hebbard G. Diffuse esophageal spasm. Am J Gastroenterol. Feb 2008;103(2):450-7. [Medline].

  4. Almansa C, Achem SR. [Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES). Practical concepts of diagnosis and treatment] [Spanish]. Rev Gastroenterol Mex. Apr-Jun 2007;72(2):136-45. [Medline].

  5. Nino-Murcia M, Stark P, Triadafilopoulos G. Esophageal wall thickening: a CT finding in diffuse esophageal spasm. J Comput Assist Tomogr. Mar-Apr 1997;21(2):318-21. [Medline].

  6. Pandolfino JE, Fox MR, Bredenoord AJ, Kahrilas PJ. High-resolution manometry in clinical practice: utilizing pressure topography to classify oesophageal motility abnormalities. Neurogastroenterol Motil. Aug 2009;21(8):796-806. [Medline].

  7. Herbella FA, Raz DJ, Nipomnick I, Patti MG. Primary versus secondary esophageal motility disorders: diagnosis and implications for treatment. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. Apr 2009;19(2):195-8. [Medline].

  8. Nguyen NQ, Ching K, Tippett M, Smout AJ, Holloway RH. Impact of nadir lower oesophageal sphincter pressure on bolus clearance assessed by combined manometry and multi-channel intra-luminal impedance measurement. Neurogastroenterol Motil. Aug 21 2009;[Medline].

  9. Lacy BE, Weiser K. Esophageal motility disorders: medical therapy. J Clin Gastroenterol. May-Jun 2008;42(5):652-8. [Medline].

  10. Bremner RM, DeMeester TR. Current management of patients with esophageal motor abnormalities. Adv Surg. 1996;30:349-84. [Medline].

  11. Cameron R, Barclay M, Dobbs B. Ambulatory oesophageal manometry and pH monitoring for investigation of chest pain: a New Zealand experience. N Z Med J. Mar 10, 2006;119(1230):U1877. [Medline].

  12. Cannon RO 3rd, Quyyumi AA, Mincemoyer R, Stine AM, Gracely RH, Smith WB, et al. Imipramine in patients with chest pain despite normal coronary angiograms. N Engl J Med. May 19 1994;330(20):1411-7. [Medline].

  13. Casselbrant A, Edebo A, Wennerblom J, Lonroth H, Helander HF, Vieth M, et al. Actions by angiotensin II on esophageal contractility in humans. Gastroenterology. Nov 2006;132(1):249-60. [Medline].

  14. Dogan I, Mittal RK. Esophageal motor disorders: recent advances. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. Jul 2006;22(4):417-22. [Medline].

  15. Dogan I, Puckett JL, Padda BS, Mittal RK. Prevalence of increased esophageal muscle thickness in patients with esophageal symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol. Jan 2007;102(1):137-45. [Medline].

  16. Drenth JP, Bos LP, Engels LG. Efficacy of diltiazem in the treatment of diffuse oesophageal spasm. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Aug 1990;4(4):411-6. [Medline].

  17. Eslick GD, Coulshed DS, Talley NJ. Diagnosis and treatment of noncardiac chest pain. Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol. Oct 2005;2(10):463-472. [Medline].

  18. Fass R, Pulliam G, Johnson C. Symptom severity and oesophageal chemosensitivity to acid in older and young patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux. Age Ageing. Mar 2000;29(2):125-30.

  19. Faybush EM, Fass R. Gastroesophageal reflux disease in noncardiac chest pain. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. Mar 2004;33(1):41-54. [Medline].

  20. Ferguson TB, Woodbury JD, Roper CL, Burford TH. Giant muscular hypertrophy of the esophagus. Ann Thorac Surg. Sep 1969;8(3):209-18. [Medline].

  21. Howden CW. Review article: pharmacological approaches to the optimal control of nocturnal intragastric acidity. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Sept 2006;3:39-45.

  22. Irving JD, Owen WJ, Linsell J, McCullagh M, Keightley A, Anggiansah A. Management of diffuse esophageal spasm with balloon dilatation. Gastrointest Radiol. 1992;17(3):189-92. [Medline].

  23. Kamath MV, May A, Hollerbach S, Fitzpatrick D, Bulat R, Bajwa A, et al. Effects of esophageal stimulation in patients with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2000;28(1-2):87-93. [Medline].

  24. Makk LJ, Leesar M, Joseph A, Prince CP, Wright RA. Cardioesophageal reflexes: an invasive human study. Dig Dis Sci. Dec 2000;45(12):2451-4. [Medline].

  25. Manfrini O, Bazzocchi G, Luati A, Borghi A, Monari P, Bugiardini R. Coronary spasm reflects inputs from adjacent esophageal system. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. May 2006;290(5):H2085-91. [Medline].

  26. Mellow MH, Simpson AG, Watt L, Schoolmeester L, Haye OL. Esophageal acid perfusion in coronary artery disease. Induction of myocardial ischemia. Gastroenterology. Aug 1983;85(2):306-12. [Medline].

  27. Miller LS, Parkman HP, Schiano TD, Cassidy MJ, Ter RB, Dabezies MA, et al. Treatment of symptomatic nonachalasia esophageal motor disorders with botulinum toxin injection at the lower esophageal sphincter. Dig Dis Sci. Oct 1996;41(10):2025-31. [Medline].

  28. Mittal RK. Motor and sensory function of the esophagus: revelations through ultrasound and imaging. J Clin Gastroenterol. Apr/2005;39(4 Suppl 2):S42-8.

  29. Mittal RK, Kassab G, Puckett JL, Liu J. Hypertrophy of the muscularis propria of the lower esophageal sphincter and the body of the esophagus in patients with primary motility disorders of the esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003;98(8):1705-12. [Medline].

  30. Nayar DS, Khandwala F, Achkar E, Shay SS, Richter JE, Falk GW, et al. Esophageal manometry: assessment of interpreter consistency. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. Mar 2005;3(3):218-24. [Medline].

  31. Pope CE 2nd. The esophagus for the nonesophagologist. Am J Med. Nov 24 1997;103(5A):19S-22S. [Medline].

  32. Rencoret G, Csendes A, Henríquez A. [Esophageal manometry in patients with non cardiac chest pain]. Rev Med Chil. Mar 2006;134(3):291-8. [Medline].

  33. Rieder F, Cheng L, Harnett KM, Chak A, Cooper GS, Isenberg G, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux disease- associated esophagitis induces endogenous cytokine production leading to motor abnormalities. Gastroenterology. Jan 2007;132(1):154-65. [Medline].

  34. Santos R, Haack HG, Maddalena D, Hansen RD, Kellow JE. Evaluation of artificial neural networks in the classification of primary oesophageal dysmotility. Scand J Gastroenterol. Mar 2006;41(3):257-63. [Medline].

  35. Sifrim D, Janssens J, Vantrappen G. Failing deglutitive inhibition in primary esophageal motility disorders. Gastroenterology. Apr 1994;106(4):875-82. [Medline].

  36. Spencer HL, Smith L, Riley SA. A questionnaire study to assess long-term outcome in patients with abnormal esophageal manometry. Dysphagia. Jul 2006;21(3):149-55. [Medline].

  37. Swamy N. Esophageal spasm: clinical and manometric response to nitroglycerine and long acting nitrites. Gastroenterology. Jan 1977;72(1):23-7. [Medline].

  38. Tutuian R, Mainie I, Agrawal A, Gideon RM, Katz PO, Castell DO. Symptom and function heterogenicity among patients with distal esophageal spasm: studies using combined impedance-manometry. Am J Gastroenterol. Mar 2006;101(3):464-9. [Medline].

  39. Vaezi MF. Review article: the role of pH monitoring in extraoesophageal gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Mar 2006;23 Suppl 1:40-9. [Medline].

  40. Winters C, Artnak EJ, Benjamin SB, Castell DO. Esophageal bougienage in symptomatic patients with the nutcracker esophagus. A primary esophageal motility disorder. JAMA. Jul 20 1984;252(3):363-6. [Medline].

Further Reading

Related eMedicine Topics

Clinical Trials

National Guideline Clearinghouse

Keywords

esophageal spasm, diffuse esophageal spasm, nutcracker esophagus, DES, dysphagia, regurgitationachalasia, noncardiac chest pain, esophagectomy, globus, gastric reflux, gastric reflux, microvascular compression of Vagus nerve

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Alan BR Thomson, MD, MSc, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine
Alan BR Thomson, MD, MSc, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Federation for Aging Research, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Physiological Society, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology Research Group, New York Academy of Sciences, and Royal Society of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

John Gunn Lee, MD, Director of Pancreaticobiliary Service, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of California at Irvine School of Medicine
John Gunn Lee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Simmy Bank, MD, Chair, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Long Island Jewish Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania
Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law Medicine and Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
HONcode

We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright© 1994- by Medscape.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.