Achalasia.

Achalasia is a rare motor disorder of the esophagus, characterized by the absence of peristalsis and impaired swallow-induced relaxation. These motor abnormalities result in stasis of ingested food in the esophagus, leading to clinical symptoms, such as dysphagia, regurgitation of food, retrosternal pain and weight loss. Etiology is unknown. Some familial cases have been reported, but the rarity of familial occurrence does not support the hypothesis that genetic inheritance is a significant etiologic factor. Association of achalasia with viral infections and auto-antibodies against myenteric plexus has been reported, but the causal relationship remains unclear. In terms of diagnosis, esophageal manometry is the gold standard to diagnose achalasia. Still, its role in post-treatment surveillance remains controversial. Radiological studies support the initial diagnosis of achalasia and have been proposed for detecting preclinical symptomatic recurrence. Although endoscopy is considered to have a poor sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of achalasia, it has an important role in ruling out secondary causes of achalasia. Treatment is strictly palliative. Current medical and surgical therapeutic options (pneumatic dilation, surgical myotomy, and pharmacologic agents) aimed at reducing the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and facilitating esophageal emptying by gravity and hydrostatic pressure of retained food and liquids.

The diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is known to cause erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagus and has been linked to the development of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Currently, endoscopy is the main clinical tool for visualizing esophageal lesions, but the majority of GERD patients do not have endoscopic visible lesions and other methods are required. Ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring is the gold standard in diagnosing GERD, since it measures distal esophageal acid exposure and demonstrates the relationship between symptoms and acid reflux. The effectiveness of selective gastric acid suppressive therapy led to the introduction of short trials of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to diagnose GERD and they are often used as a first line diagnostic tool in clinical practice and, in particular, in the primary care setting, the current trend being that gastroenterologists are asked to evaluate mainly patients with persistent GERD symptoms while on PPI therapy. In these patients the question is whether the persistent symptoms are or not associated with reflux (acid or nonacid). Recently, either combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring or bilimetry allow to study the mechanisms underlying the persistent symptoms on acid suppressive therapy. Manometry is mandatory prior to any surgical approach and to verify motility disorders that could be associated to GERD.

[Splenic artery aneurysm. Two successfully operated cases]. / Gli aneurismi dell'arteria splenica. Su due casi operati con successo.

The splenic artery aneurysms usually have an asymptomatic course; their rupture is associated with high mortality. The clinical history and the treatment of two patients with splenic artery aneurysm are reported. Of the two cases, one was asymptomatic, diagnosed with upper abdomen ultrasound, the other one was treated as an emergency because presented with shock. Both patients underwent surgical procedure; ligature of the splenic artery and splenectomy were performed. Early diagnosis is important in these lesions because the progressive enlargement and eventual rupture are the natural history. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (TC) are very helpful as diagnostic tools, however angiography represents the method of choice since it could be the first step of the embolization treatment. If the diameter is more than 2.5 cm surgical treatment must be performed. Ruptures are treated with emergency operations, when possible. In high-risk patients non operative management by selective embolization may be a suitable alternative.

Extrathoracic airway dysfunction in cough associated with gastroesophageal reflux.

BACKGROUND: Cough associated with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) may originate in extrathoracic airway receptors made hypersensitive by acid-induced mucosal injury. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of laryngeal disease and dysfunction in the pathogenesis of GER-associated cough in nonasthmatic patients. METHODS: Seven patients with GER-associated cough were compared with 7 patients with GER but no cough. The patients underwent fiberoptic endoscopy for assessment of laryngitis and esophagitis (expressed by scores); esophageal manometry; 24-hour pH monitoring; lung function tests; and histamine inhalation challenge with assessment of bronchial threshold (concentration provoking 10% fall in FEV1 [PC10]), extrathoracic airway threshold (concentration provoking 25% fall in the maximal midinspiratory flow [PC25MIF50]), and cough threshold (concentration provoking 5 or more coughs PCcough). The patients were reevaluated after 3 months of medical treatment for GER. RESULTS: Patients with cough, compared with those without cough, had significantly higher laryngitis scores (P = .002), lower esophageal sphincter pressures, longer time with pH below 4 (P = .003), greater number of episodes of reflux longer than 5 minutes (P = .016), longer esophageal clearance time (P = .048), and significantly lower PC25MIF50 (P = .005) and PCcough (P = .008) values. Laryngitis score was significantly inversely related to either PCcough (P < .001) or PC25MIF50 (P <.01) but not to PC10. Laryngitis score, PC25MIF50, and PCcough were all closely related to GER severity. After GER treatment, laryngitis, PC25MIF50, and PCcough were all significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that GER-associated cough is strongly associated with laryngeal disease and dysfunction consequent to acid reflux injury in nonasthmatic patients.

[Parapapillary leiomyoma of the second duodenal portion: anatomo-clinical considerations]. / Il leiomioma parapapillare della seconda porzione duodenale: considerazioni anatomo-cliniche.

The authors describe a rare case of leiomyoma situated in the second duodenal portion near the Vater papillary diagnosed for over eight years. The preoperative investigation isn't able to explain certainly the characteristics and the anatomo-topographic relations of the lesion besides the anatomo-pathologic dates have left a border of uncertainty about the benignity of the lesion. These considerations, as agreed with the greater part of authors, show the necessity of early surgical treatment.

[Functional study of intestinal transplants after esophagectomy]. / Studio funzionale dei visceri trasposti dopo esofagectomia.

The Authors contribute their experience covering 228 cases of esophagoplasty after esophagectomy for cancer of the esophagus and of the esophagogastric junction, from 1980 to 1989. Thirty four of these patients (24 EGP, 8 EDP, 2 ECP) underwent accurate functional investigation by X-ray, manometry, pH-metry and scintigraphy. The investigation into esophagogastroplasty in particular revealed that the transposed organ is devoid of motor activity and that emptying is therefore achieved by gravity. It was also shown that the entity of the alkaline, acid and mixed-type reflux is linked to the site of the anastomosis: greater proximity of the anastomosis translates into lower involvement. An investigation into esophagojejunoplasty, instead, highlighted normal motor function: no cases presented reflux of the alkaline type. The two cases of colon plasty investigated presented efficient emptying even though manometry could not detect the presence of motor waves of the propulsive type. The authors conclude that, although the jejunum constitutes the best prosthetic element to transpose from the functional point of view, highly inconsistent and precarious vascularization limits the use of this organ to the higher anastomoses only. Therefore the Authors claim that the stomach, despite its tendency to behave as an inert tube, is still the best choice for transpositions following esophagectomy.