What is esophageal spasm?
Esophageal spasm is a disorder of the rhythmic waves of muscular contractions (peristalsis) of the esophagus. The cause of this disorder is not known. Symptoms include chest pain and difficulty swallowing.
What is jackhammer esophageal spasm?
Esophageal spasms make it difficult for the muscles in the walls of your lower esophagus to coordinate in order to move food to your stomach. There are two types of esophageal spasms — distal esophageal spasm and hypercontractile esophagus, also referred to as jackhammer esophagus.
How are patients with diffuse esophageal spasm selected for botulinum toxin injections?
Patients are selected on the basis of a clinical diagnosis of diffuse esophageal spasm, based on endoscopy and manometry. This is a sham-controlled cross-over study of injection of botulinum toxin or saline, in randomized order, in the distal esophagus.
Do you need treatment for esophageal spasms?
Esophagus. Esophageal spasms typically occur only occasionally and might not need treatment. But sometimes the spasms are frequent and can prevent food and liquids from traveling through the esophagus. If esophageal spasms interfere with your ability to eat or drink, treatments are available.
Normally, contractions of the esophagus are coordinated, moving the food through the esophagus and into the stomach. There are two main types of esophageal spasm. First, there is something called the diffuse esophageal spasm. This type of spasm is an irregular, uncoordinated squeezing of the muscles of the esophagus.
How does an esophageal spasm move food?
A healthy esophagus normally moves food into your stomach through a series of coordinated muscle contractions. Esophageal spasms make it difficult for the muscles in the walls of your lower esophagus to coordinate in order to move food to your stomach. There are two types of esophageal spasms: Occasional contractions…