IMPORTANT DISORDERS OF THE
ESOPHAGUS :

1. GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease
2. varices
3. tumors
4. diverticula
5. strictures
6. esophageal rings and webs
7. foreign-body obstructions
8. infectious diseases
9. Mallory-Weiss tears
10. Motility Disorders
11. Caustic Injuries
12. Barrett’s Esophagus
13. fistulas
14. congenital disorders


GERD : GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

Gastroesophageal reflux develops when gastric or duodenal
contents flow back into the esophagus. We all have normally
some amount of reflux, particularly after eating. It only becomes
bothersome to us or becomes a “disease” only when it causes
undesirable symptoms, such as pain or problems with
breathing!

Remember the LES ( lower esophageal sphincter ) that we
talked about in my previous introductory e-mail .....patients
with excessive or symptomatic esophageal reflux have an
incompetent LES ----- that is , the LES does not have sufficient
intraluminal pressure to prevent reflux.

Other causes are: results of pyloric stenosis ( hardening of a
part of a stomach ) , intestinal malrotation or a motility (moving)
disorder. Our esophagus, stomach & intestines are “motile” in
order to propel the food we eat towards the next organs.


MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS of GERD:

1. dyspepsia - discomfort or pain in the mid-chest area
2. heartburn
3. regurgitation - moving back
4. dysphagia - difficulty swallowing
5.odynophagia - painful swallowing
6. esophagitis - bleeding from erosions
7. asthma
8. aspiration pneumonia

THREE OBJECTIVES IN TREATMENT OF GERD:

1. RELIEF OF SYMPTOMS
2. THE HEALING OF DAMAGED MUCOSA
3. PREVENTION OF COMPLICATIONS


CONTINUED ON NEXT E-MAIL !





MARIA
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GLOBALHEALTH2000
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