Achalasia cardia

Akhalasia (translated from Greek means no muscle relaxation) cardia (sphincter separating the esophagus from the internal space of the stomach) is a disease in which the ability of the lower sphincter of the esophagus to be reflexively relaxed when food gets into it. As a result, the tonus of the esophagus is disturbed, there is a delay in the passage of food.

Causes of achalasia of the cardia

The specific reasons for the development of cardiac achalasia have not been studied in detail today, but the most probable factors of its occurrence are:

• degenerative changes in nerve fibers responsible for the esophagus;
• psychoemotional stress.

Symptoms of achalasia of the cardia

1. Dysphagia is a violation of swallowing. The earliest and persistent symptom in this disease. Difficulty occurs a few seconds after ingestion, and unpleasant sensations occur not in the throat, but in the region of the chest. In some patients this symptom can initially be episodic and arise only with rapid absorption of food, but eventually becomes permanent.
2. Regurgitation is a reverse throw of the contents of the stomach and esophagus. It can be observed both in the form of regurgitation, and in the form of vomiting, and arise directly during food intake, immediately after it, or within 2-3 hours after eating.
3. The pain in the achalasia of the cardia is observed on an empty stomach or during meals. The pain is localized in the region of the chest, but can be given to the jaw, neck, between the shoulder blades.
4. Unpleasant odor from the mouth , nausea, eructations are rotten, caused by stagnation of undigested food in the esophagus.
5. Weight loss , caused by restriction of food intake, to avoid discomfort.

With this disease, the symptoms are slow enough, but are steadily progressing.

Achalasia cardia - classification

Depending on the degree of development of pathology, cardia alchasia is divided into four stages:

1. Achalasia cardia of the 1st degree. There is a non-permanent violation of the passage of food through the esophagus. The esophagus itself is not enlarged.
2. Achalasia of cardia of the 2nd degree. Spasm of the sphincter and, accordingly, a violation of the passage of food, permanent. Expansion of the esophagus is observed.
3. Achalasia of cardia of the 3rd degree. In addition to a constant sense of discomfort, anatomical defects arise: cicatricial changes and due to them a narrowing of the diameter of the esophagus, widening it no less than twice over the area of ​​stenosis.
4. Achalasia cardia 4 degrees. Clearly expressed cicatricial lesion of the esophagus, the development of inflammatory processes of the mucosa, the appearance of ulcers on the walls of the esophagus.

Treatment of achalasia of cardia

Treatment of the disease is reduced to restoring the normal patency of the esophagus:

1. Medicamentous. It has an auxiliary character and consists in taking medications that remove spasm of smooth muscles (nitrate group), antispasmodics, calcium antagonists. Recently, botulinum toxin has been used to treat cardiac achalasia.
2. Cardiodilation. Artificial mechanical expansion of the cardia by means of endoscopic introduction of a special balloon, which is inflated by air.
3. Surgical intervention. There are more than 25 types of operations to eliminate cardiac achalasia. The type of surgery is determined by the doctor depending on the specific development of the disease in a particular patient.
4. Treatment of achalasia of cardia with folk remedies. It is purely auxiliary. To increase the tone of the sphincter, it is recommended to take the tincture of althea, ginseng , eleutherococcus extract. As an anti-inflammatory drug use infusion of cones of alder and seeds of quince.