Esofagitis eosinofílica y acalasia esofágica / Eosinophilic esophagitis and esophageal acalasia

Introducción: La esofagitis eosinofílica es una enfermedad emergente, caracterizada por infiltración del esófago por leucocitos eosinófilos. Sus principales síntomas son la disfagia y las frecuentes impactaciones de alimento en el esófago. Actualmente existen evidencias científicas que reconocen la enfermedad como causa posible de evolución no favorable en pacientes después de miotomía de Héller. Objetivo: Describir las evidencias biomoleculares que asocian la esofagitis eosinofílica y la acalasia esofágica. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática y crítica de las evidencias sobre los mecanismos biomoleculares asociados a la esofagitis eosinofílica y la acalasia esofágica. Se consultaron artículos publicados entre 2015 y 2020 e indexados en las bases de datos PubMed, SciELO, LILACS y Scopus. Análisis e integración de la información: Se discute sobre cuestiones medulares que han sido publicadas recientemente respecto al tema en cuestión. ¿Pueden coexistir la esofagitis eosinofílica y la acalasia esofágica? ¿Influye la esofagitis eosinofílica en el resultado del tratamiento de la acalasia esofágica? ¿Qué investigaciones serían necesarias para establecer la relación entre las dos enfermedades? Conclusiones: Los mecanismos celulares y biomoleculares desencadenados por la infiltración eosinofílica contextualizan la diferencia etiológica y fisiopatológica de la esofagitis eosinofílica y la acalasia esofágica, lo cual sustenta la evolución desfavorable posmiotomía de los pacientes y motiva la realización de estudios prospectivos y controlados con el fin de ofrecer una mejor calidad de vida(AU)

Introduction: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an emerging disease characterized by infiltration of the esophagus by eosinophilic leukocytes. Its main symptoms are dysphagia and frequent food impaction in the esophagus. Scientific evidence is now available that recognizes the disease as the possible cause of unfavorable evolution in patients undergoing Heller myotomy. Objective: Describe the biomolecular evidence associating eosinophilic esophagitis to esophageal achalasia. Methods: A systematic critical review was conducted of the evidence about biomolecular mechanisms associated to eosinophilic esophagitis and esophageal achalasia. The articles consulted were published in the databases PubMed, SciELO, LILACS and Scopus from 2015 to 2020. Data analysis and integration: A discussion is provided about crucial questions published recently concerning the study topic: Can eosinophilic esophagitis and esophageal achalasia coexist? Does eosinophilic esophagitis influence the result of esophageal achalasia treatment? What studies are required to establish the relationship between the two conditions? Conclusions: The cellular and biomolecular mechanisms triggered by eosonophilic infiltration contextualize the etiological and pathophysiological difference between eosinophilic esophagitis and esophageal achalasia. This explains the unfavorable post-myotomy evolution of patients and encourages the conduct of prospective controlled studies aimed at enhancing quality of life(AU)

Esophageal manometry in systemic sclerosis: findings and association with clinical manifestations

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Systemic sclerosis (SSC) is an autoimmune disorder that affects several organs of unknown etiology, characterized by vascular damage and fibrosis of the skin and organs. Among the organs involved are the esophagus and the lung. OBJECTIVES To relate the profile of changes in esophageal electromanometry (EM), the profile of skin involvement, interstitial pneumopathy (ILD), and esophageal symptoms in SSC patients. METHODS This is an observational, cross-sectional study carried out at the SSC outpatient clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Uberlândia. After approval by the Ethics Committee and signed the terms of consent, 50 patients were initially enrolled, from 04/12/2014 to 06/25/2015. They were submitted to the usual investigations according to the clinical picture. The statistical analysis was descriptive in percentage, means, and standard deviation. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between EM, high-resolution tomography, and esophageal symptoms. RESULTS 91.9% of the patients had some manometric alterations. 37.8% had involvement of the esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter. 37.8% had ILD. 24.3% presented the diffuse form of SSC. No association was found between manometric changes and clinical manifestations (cutaneous, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal symptoms). CONCLUSION The present study confirms that esophageal motility alterations detected by EM are frequent in SSC patients, but may not be related to cutaneous extension involvement, the presence of ILD, or the gastrointestinal complaints of patients.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO A esclerose sistêmica (ES) é uma doença autoimune que afeta vários órgãos de etiologia desconhecida, caracterizada por dano vascular e fibrose da pele e órgãos. Entre os órgãos envolvidos estão o esôfago e o pulmão. OBJETIVOS Relacionar o perfil das alterações na eletromanometria (ME), o perfil de acometimento da pele, a pneumopatia intersticial (PI) e os sintomas esofágicos em pacientes com ES. MÉTODO Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal, realizado no ambulatório de SSC do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. Após aprovação pelo Comitê de Ética e assinatura dos termos de consentimento, 50 pacientes foram inicialmente convidados, de 04/12/2014 a 25/06/2015. Eles foram submetidos às investigações usuais de acordo com o quadro clínico. A análise estatística foi descritiva em porcentagem, média e desvio padrão. O teste Qui-quadrado foi utilizado para avaliar a relação entre ME, tomografia de alta resolução e sintomas esofágicos. RESULTADOS 91,9% dos pacientes apresentaram alterações manométricas. 37,8% tinham envolvimento do corpo esofágico e do esfíncter esofágico inferior. 37,8% tinham IP. 24,3% apresentaram a forma difusa da ES. Não há associação entre alterações manométricas e manifestações clínicas (sintomas cutâneos, pulmonares e gastrointestinais). CONCLUSÃO O presente estudo confirma que as alterações da motilidade esofágica detectadas pela EM são frequentes em pacientes com SSC, mas podem não estar relacionadas ao envolvimento cutâneo, à de DPI ou às queixas gastrointestinais dos pacientes.

Síndrome de Boerhaave: uma complicação rara em pós-operatório de cirurgia estética / Boerhaave syndrome: a rare complication of cosmetic surgery

Introdução: Este estudo se trata de um relato de caso que tem por objetivo alertar os cirurgiões para uma possível complicação em pós-operatório de cirurgias estéticas longas sob anestesia geral. A Síndrome de Boerhaave é uma doença grave que ameaça a vida do paciente e merece um diagnóstico precoce até 12hs e um tratamento adequado. Relato de caso: A paciente no pós-operatório de cirurgia plástica abdominal e mastopexia apresentou, após anestesia geral, crises de vômito e náuseas. Resultados: Paciente com 58 anos do sexo feminino submetida à dermolipectomia abdominal e mastopexia pela a técnica de pedículo inferior sob raquianestesia, onde após um período de quatro horas do término da cirurgia apresentou vários episódios de vômitos. Após 10 horas do ato cirúrgico apresentou queixa de algia ao deglutir, seguida de algia intensa generalizada, dispneia intensa, sudorese, palidez, PA 90x50mmhg. Com a piora do quadro a paciente foi encaminhada para a unidade de terapia intensiva onde foi entubada. Foram realizados exames laboratoriais, toracocentese e exames radiológicos. Atualmente, a paciente encontra-se com prótese esofágica. Conclusões: Fazendo a correlação com a bibliografia, no caso em tela sugere-se evitar cirurgias prolongadas, principalmente sob anestesia geral onde pode ocorrer a retenção de gás carbônico, que pode levar a crise emética no pós-operatório em pacientes com antecedentes de doença esofagiana e estar atentos aos sintomas, não descartando a possibilidade da ocorrência da Síndrome Boerhaave.

Introduction: The objective of this case report is to alert surgeons to a possible postoperative complication of long cosmetic surgery under general anesthesia. Boerhaave syndrome is a serious life-threatening disease that requires diagnosis within 12 hours and proper treatment. Case report: A 58-year-old female patient presented with vomiting and nausea after abdominoplasty and mastopexy under general anesthesia. Results: The patient underwent dermolipectomy and mastopexy using the inferior pedicle technique under spinal anesthesia. Four hours after the operation, she presented several episodes of vomiting. Ten hours after the operation, she reported painful swallowing followed by generalized severe pain and presented severe dyspnea, sweating, pallor, and a 90/50 mmHg blood pressure. As the condition worsened, the patient was referred to the intensive care unit where she was intubated and underwent laboratory tests, thoracentesis, and radiological examinations. The patient currently uses an esophageal prosthesis. Conclusions: The literature suggests avoiding prolonged surgery, especially under general anesthesia, because of the risk of carbon dioxide retention, which may lead to postoperative emetic crisis in patients with a history of esophageal disease. It also suggests paying attention to symptoms, not excluding the possibility of Boerhaave syndrome.

Dolor torácico no cardigénico / Non-cardiac chest pain

El dolor torácico no cardiogénico se define como episodios recurrentes de dolor subesternal en pacientes que no poseen una causa cardiológica luego de un estudio acabado. Representa un dilema clínico dado que el dolor frecuentemente es indistinguible de un dolor de origen coronario llevando a extensas y costosas evaluaciones. Diversos mecanismos han sido implicados en su origen, entre ellos el reflujo gastroesofágico, alteraciones de la motilidad, hipersensibilidad visceral y comorbilidad psicológica. Junto a ello, diversos test diagnósticos están disponibles en la práctica clínica para identificar el origen del dolor, incluyendo la pH metría de 24 horas, estudios de motilidad esofágica, endoscopía digestiva alta, test de probación y tratamientos de prueba. Su tratamiento idealmente debiera estar enfocado a corregir el mecanismo subyacente y aliviar los síntomas. Inhibidores de la bomba de protones, antidepresivos, relajantes de la musculatura lisa y terapia cognitiva conductual aparecen como medidas terapéuticas de utilidad.

Noncardiac chest pain is defined by recurrent episodes of subesternal chest pain in patients lacking a cardiac cause after a comprehensive evaluation. It is a diagnostic dilemma, chest pain is often indistinguishable from cardiac cause leading to extensive and expensive evaluations. Pathophysiologically, gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal dismotility, esophageal hypersensitivity, and psychological comorbidities have been implicated. A variety of diagnostic tests are available in the clinical practice to identify the origin of pain, including ambulatory pH testing, esophageal motility, upper endoscopy, provocative testing and even therapeutic trails. Ideally treatment should be aimed at correcting the underlying mechanism and relieving symptoms. Proton pumps inhibitors, antidepressants, smooth muscle relaxants and cognitive behavorial therapy appear to be useful for the treatment of these patients.

Surfactant Protein A Expression in Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Atrophic Rhinitis

Introduction Surfactant protein A (SP-A) exhibits antimicrobial properties and interacts with a variety of respiratory tract pathogens. Objective The objective of this study was to detect the presence of SP-A and measure its alterations in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and primary atrophic rhinitis (PAR) versus healthy controls. Methods Inferior turbinate and sinus mucosal biopsies were taken from 30 patients with CRS, 30 patients with PAR, and 20 healthy controls. Immunohistochemical staining for SP-A and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of SP-A messenger RNA were performed on nasal tissue samples. Results Immunostaining localized SP-A to the mucosa and submucosal glands in CRS specimens but failed to localize it in PAR specimens. Quantitative PCR showed a high, statistically significant increase in the SP-A levels of patients with CRS when compared with controls (p < 0.0001) and also demonstrated a significant reduction of SP-A in patients with PAR compared with controls (p < 0.005). Conclusion SP-A is significantly increased in CRS and decreased significantly in PAR and appears to be expressed by respiratory epithelial cells and submucosal glandular elements of the sinonasal mucosa. The potential therapeutic applications of surfactant in the enhancement of mucociliary clearance need to be studied. .

Motilidade esofágica, sintomas, resultado alimentar e perda de peso após derivação gástrica em Y-de-Roux / Esophageal motility, symptoms, food intake and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

RACIONAL: Achados anormais de manometria podem ser encontrados na população obesa. É controverso se a manometria deveria ser usada para escolher a técnica cirúrgica e se a função esofágica poderia prever os sintomas pós-operatórios. OBJETIVO: Correlacionar a motilidade do esôfago com sintomas pós-operatórios, resultado alimentar e perda de peso após a derivação gástrica em Y de Roux. MÉTODO: Cento e catorze pacientes submetidos à derivação foram estudados prospectivamente. Eles não apresentavam sintomas de refluxo gastroesofágico ou doenças que pudessem interferir com a função motora do esôfago. Um ano após a operação foram entrevistados sobre os sintomas e hábitos alimentares. RESULTADOS: A perda do excesso de peso foi de 66,2%. Sessenta pacientes (52,6%) tiveram manometria anormal; quarenta e nove (43%) alterações manométricas no esfíncter inferior do esôfago no pré-operatório; pressão elevada em 18 pacientes (16%) e baixa em 31 (27%). A síndrome de dumping foi encontrada em 27 (23,6%) pacientes e 21 (18,4%) queixaram-se de regurgitação. Resultado alimentar excelente, bom, moderado e pobre esteve presente em 32 (28%), 31 (27,2%), 39 (34,2%), 12 (11,6%) pacientes, respectivamente. A pressão do esfíncter inferior e amplitude de contração do esôfago não se correlacionam com perda do excesso de peso, cuja média foi significativamente maior para os pacientes com hipertensão na amplitude de contração. Regurgitação foi mais frequente em pacientes com hipotonia do esfíncter. Não houve correlação entre dumping e pressão do esfíncter inferior; entre amplitude de contração e dumping ou regurgitação; entre os resultados alimentares e pressão do esfíncter ou amplitude de contração do esôfago. CONCLUSÃO: A manometria esofágica antes da derivação é de importância clínica limitada.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal manometry findings can be found in the obese population. It is controversial if the manometry should be used to choose the adequate operation or if the motility status could predict symptomatic outcomes. AIM: To correlate the esophageal motility with postoperative symptoms, alimentary outcome and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. METHODS: One hundred and fourteen patients were submitted to the operation and were prospectively studied. They had no GERD symptoms or diseases that might interfere with esophageal motor function. One year after surgery patients were interviewed regarding current symptoms and eating habits. RESULTS: Excess weight loss was 66.2 %. Sixty (52.6%) patients had an abnormal manometry. Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter was found in 18 (16%) patients and hypotonic sphincter in 31 (27%). Dumping syndrome was mentioned by 27 (23.6%) patients and 21 (18.4%) complained of regurgitation. Excellent, good, moderate and poor alimentary outcome was present in 32 (28%), 31 (27.2%), 39 (34.2%), 12 (11.6%) patients, respectively. Sphincter pressure and esophageal amplitude did not correlate with excess weight loss. Its average was significantly higher for patients with hypertensive esophageal amplitude. Regurgitation was more frequent in patients with a hypotensive sphincter. There is no correlation between dumping and sphincter pressure status; between dumping or regurgitation and esophageal amplitude; between alimentary outcomes and sphincter pressure status or esophageal amplitude. CONCLUSION: Esophageal manometry before Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is of limited clinical significance.

Dolor torácico no cardiaco / Non-cardiac chest pain

El dolor torácico no - cardíaco es una condición relativamente frecuente, que se diagnostica después de una evaluación cardiológica dirigida a las coronarias ha resultado normal. El reflujo gastroesofágico ácido es la causa más frecuente del dolor torácico no cardíaco, y se interpreta como un aumento en la sensibilidad visceral con mucosa hipersensible a la irritación, y potenciada por el estrés. Menos frecuentes son los trastornos motores del esófago como el espasmo difuso del esófago que también se asocia al estrés emocional. Un enfoque terapéutico simple inicial puede ser la administración de inhibidores de la bomba de protones, por un periodo. Si no hay respuesta está indicado efectuar una manometría esofágica y monitoreo por 24 horas del pH intraesofágico. El tratamiento farmacológico está comandado por los hallazgos de estos tests.

Non-cardiac chest pain is a relatively common condition diagnosed following a normal cardiac and coronary evaluation. Abnormal gastro-esophageal acid reflux is the most common condition associated to non - cardiac chest pain. It has been related to visceral hypersensitivity of the esophageal mucosa. Esophageal motility disorders such as diffuse esophageal spasm also relates to stress are less common. An initial simple therapeutic approach is to indicate proton pump inhibitors for a few days. If there is no relief, esophageal manometry and a 24 hour monitoring intra-esophageal pH are indicated.

Estudio mamométrico del esófago en pacientes con dolor torácico no cardíaco / Esophageal manometry in patients with non cardiac chest pain

Background: Non cardiac chest pain can be caused by esophageal problems such as gastroesophageal reflux or smooth muscle motor disorders. Aim: To perform esophageal manometry in patients with non cardiac chest pain. Material and methods: One hundred patients with chest pain in whom coronary problems were discarded, were studied. A computerized esophageal manometry was performed in all and 24 hours esophageal pH measurement was done in 21 patients. Results: Esophageal manometry was normal in eight patients. Nutcracker esophagus was the most common finding, in 36 patients. Twenty eight had a hypotensive sphincter, 16 had unspecific motor disorders, nine had diffuse esophageal spasm, two had a non achalasic esophageal aperistalsis and one had a hypertensive sphincter. Conclusions: Only eight of 100 patients referred to esophageal manometry for non cardiac chest pain, had a normal study.

The Relationship between Ineffective Esophageal Motility and Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is a distinct manometric entity characterized by a hypocontractile esophagus. Recently, IEM replaced the nonspecific esophageal motility disorder (NEMD), and its associations with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and respiratory symptoms are well known. We evaluated the relationship of IEM with GERD, and the diagnostic value of IEM for GERD. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed recent 3-year (Jan. 1998-Sep. 2002) datas of esophageal manometry, acid perfusion test and simultaneous 24 hr-ambulatory pH-metry with manometry studies in 270 consecutive patients with esophageal and/or GERD symptoms. The prevalence of IEM in GERD group and non-GERD group, and the variables of pH-metry and manometry among esophageal motility disorders were compared. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of IEM, esophageal symptom, and acid perfusion test for GERD were calculated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in IEM prevalence rate between GERD group and non-GERD group. In addition, there was no significant difference in GERD prevalence rate and esophageal acid clearance in variety of motility disorder groups. Total percent time of pH <4 in IEM group did not show any difference when compared with other groups except in the achalasia group. In regard of diagnostic value to detect GERD, all positive results showed high specificity (97%) in IEM with esophageal symptom and positive acid perfusion test. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of IEM using esophageal manometry in patients with various esophageal symptoms does not strongly suggest on association with GERD. However, IEM with concomitant esophageal symptoms and positive acid perfusion test has diagnostic values for GERD.

Obesidad y enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico / Obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a condition that has been associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), however, a cause-effect relationship has not been established. AIM: To analyze current evidence evaluating the relationship between obesity and GERD, as well as the impact of hypocaloric diets and bariatric surgery in gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search in the MEDLINE was performed, looking for information published during the past 15 years: Cohort studies, case-control studies, case series and case reports, including the following key words: "heartburn", "reflux", "gerd", "reflux esophagitis", "obesity", "overweight", "diet", "bariatric surgery" were analized. RESULTS: Thirty-one articles were included. These studies were classified according to the diagnostic method of GERD (i.e., manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, esophageal transit, endoscopy) and type of bariatric surgery: Adjustable gastric banding (AGB), vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), or anti-reflux procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Most studies suggest that obesity is a condition predisposing to the development of GERD. However, there are no studies that correlate the degree of obesity with the symptoms of reflux. Hypotonic lower esophageal sphincter, ineffective esophageal motility and presence of hiatal hernia are the pathophysiological mechanisms proposed as inductors of gastroesophageal reflux among obese patients. AGB and VBG seem to induce postoperative esophagitis in some patients, but RYGB has shown to be effective to control GERD symptoms. Overweight and obesity do not seem to affect the results of antireflux surgery. The impact of body weight loss on GERD following hypocaloric diets requires further investigation.

Estudio de asociación entre magnitud de la hipotonía esfinteriana y transtorno motor del cuerpo esofágico / Association between lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure and esophageal motor disorders

Background: One of the most important factors involved in the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the lower esophageal sphincter rest pressure (LESRP), but these patients can have esophageal motor disorders (EMD). Aim: To assess an association between LESRP and the appearance of EMD in patients with GERD. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 229 patients with GERD and 49 healthy controls. Forty five patients with LESRP < 6 mmHg and a mean age of 49 years were assigned to group 1, 128 patients with a LESRP between 6 and 12 mmHg and mean age of 47 years were assigned to group 2, 56 patients with a a LESRP >12 mmHg and a mean age of 47 years were assigned to group 3 and group 4 was conformed by 49 healthy subjects aged 40 years old. Esophageal manometry was performed using previously published techniques. Results: There was a significant association between LESRP, waves amplitude and the frequency of tertiary waves. Conclusions: Resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure is inversely proportional to the presence of esophageal motor disorders in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Alteraçörs motoras do esôfago no paciente jovem com disfagia / Esophageal motility alterations in young patient with dysphagia

Doenca motora do esofago pode aparecer em qualquer idade e sua caracterizacao oriente o tratamento e o prognostico. Disfagia naoe sintoma frequente no paciente jovem e altercao na motilidade do esofago pode ser responsavel pela maioria dos casos. Estudou-se pelos metodos radiologico e manometrico, a motilidade do esofago de 26 pacientes (12 homens e 14 mulheres) com disfagia, referida como dificuldade da passagem do alimento deglutido pela regiao de esofago toracico, com idades entre 16 e 29 anos, mediana ede 23 anos, atendidos no Hospital das Clinicas de RibeiraoPreto entre 1994 e 1998. A duraacao da disfagia variou de um mes a 23 anos, mediana de 18 meses. Foi diagnosticada acalasia primaria em dez pacientes, esofagopatia pela doenca de chagas em quatro, altercao motora compativel com polimiosite em um, sendo que em outra paciente com o mesmo diagnostico a motilidade foi normal, alteracao motora inespecifica em dois, compativel com esclerose sistemica em um disfagia lusoria em um e estenose esofagica em um. Em cinco, sem doenca sistemica, nao foram encontradas anormalidades nos exames manometrico e radiologico. Nesta amostragem de pacientes a acalasia, seguida por esofago aparentemente normal, foi o mais frequentemente encontrado. Em outra casuistica de publicacao anterior foram observados, em maior frequencia, esofago aparentemente normal e alteracao inespecifica da motilidade. estes diagnosticos devem ser lembrados diante de um paciente jovem com disfagia

Extracción de cuerpos extraños en el esófago. Experiencia en 215 casos / Management of foreign bodies in the esophagus. Experience in 215 cases

Objetivo. Mostrar la experiencia obtenida en el manejo de cuerpos extraños en esófago en nuestro hospital. Antecedentes. Con el advenimiento de la fibroendoscopia, el uso de equipo rígido de endoscopia para extracción de cuerpos extraños del esófago es menos común. La facilidad de contar con equios flexibles ha permitido adquirir mayor experiencias. El manejo endoscópico para la extracción de cuerpos estraños en el esófago se modifica de acuerdo al material ingerido. Métodos. Entre enero de 1984 a diciembre de 1994, se realizaron 9,500 procedimientos endoscópicos del tubo digestivo proximal; se investigaron los Archivos del Departamento y se revisaron 215 de cuerpos extraños extraídos del esófago, los que correspondieron a 151 pacientes pediátricos y 64 a pacientes adultos. Resultados. En todos ellos, se utilizó equipo flexible de endoscopia que permitió la extracción del cuerpo extraño en 214 casos (99.5 por ciento) y en el restante fue necesaria la práctica de cirugía. Las monedas fueron los objetos más comúnmente ingeridos en los niños (119), mientras que en los adultos, la comida impactada fue la causa más común (35 casos). Hubo asociación de estenosis de esófago en quince adultos (once de tipo benigno, uno con adenocarcinoma de unión esófago-gástrica, dos con trastornos motores y el restante con síndrome de Plummer-Vinson). No existió morbilidad ni mortalidad atribuible al procedimiento endoscópico tanto en adultos como en niños. Conclusiones. La esofagoscopia flexible realizada en forma oportuna para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de cuerpos extraños en esófago, es la mejor opción con que se cuenta en la actualidad

Oesophageal manometry in noncardiac chest pain.

Chest pain of oesophageal origin is an important differential diagnosis in patients with cardiac chest pain. A preliminary survey of 40 patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) revealed oesophageal motility disorder in 47.5%; achalasia cardia being the most frequent disease (47.3%). 15.8% of these patients with motility disorder had features of progressive systemic sclerosis and another 15.8% had non specific oesophageal motility disorder (variants). Compared to barium swallow, oesophageal manometry was found to be superior in the diagnosis of oesophageal motility disorder.

Esophageal motility patterns in a Puerto Rican population

One hundred consecutive patients underwent esophageal motility testing at the Gastroenterology Section of the University Hospital for symptoms of esophageal dysfunction. These were dysphagia (55), non cardiac chest pain (11), gastroesophageal reflux (32), and other (2). Fifty five studies were abnormal. The most frequent findings were achalasia in fourteen patients and nonspecific esophageal motility disorder in fourteen. When the clinical presentation was correlated with the results of the study, 35 of the 55 patients with dysphagia had an abnormal study, as compared with 5 of 11 with chest pain and only 12 of 32 with reflux symptoms. These findings compare with those reported elsewhere and suggest that esophageal motility studies are most useful in the diagnosis of patients presenting with dysphagia or non cardiac chest pain