A Rare Manifestation of Achalasia: Huge Esophagus Causing Tracheal Compression and Progressive Dyspnea
Articles > Article ยท 2014
Authors: Berhan Genc, Aynur Solak, Ilhami Solak, Mehmet Serkan Gur
The Eurasian Journal of Medicine, International, Scopus, 2014, vol 46, pp 57-60
DOI: 10.5152/eajm.2014.11
Summary
Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by the absence of primary peristalsis and a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, resulting in a dilated esophagus. Dysphagia is the classic and most common symptom. Respiratory obstruction due to tracheal compression caused by a massively dilated esophagus is a very rare but fatal complication. Herein, we report a case of a patient with long-standing achalasia who had tracheal compression secondary to a markedly dilated, giant esophagus. These findings are documented with CT scans. His symptoms regressed after a Heller myotomy and fundoplication operation.