digestive disorders
Esophageal Spasm
Introduction
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. The diagnosis is based on the results of barium swallow x-rays and manometry. Treatment includes calcium channel blockers, injections of botulinum toxin, or sometimes surgery. The Throat and Esophagus is the hollow tube that leads from the throat (pharynx) to the stomach. (See also In this disorder, the normal propulsive contractions that move food through the esophagus are replaced periodically by nonpropulsive contractions or excessive muscular contractions (hyperdynamia) that do not move food through the esophagus. As a person swallows, food moves from the mouth to the throat, also called the pharynx (1). The upper esophageal sphincter opens (2) so that food can enter the esophagus, where waves of muscular contractions, called peristalsis, propel the food downward (3). The food then passes through the diaphragm (4) and lower esophageal sphincter (5) and moves into the stomach. The exact cause of esophageal spasm is not known but is suspected to be a nerve defect. 