经口内镜下肌切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症前后食管动力的变化

贲门失弛缓症的治疗目的为降低下食管括约肌压力(LESP),减轻梗阻,改善临床症状。经口内镜下肌切开术(POEM)近年来开始用于贲门失弛缓症的治疗。目的:通过分析手术前后食管动力的变化,评估POEM治疗贲门失弛缓症的近期疗效。方法:纳入2011年12月~2012年10月在南京鼓楼医院诊断为贲门失弛缓症并接受POEM治疗的39例患者,对其手术前后食管液态测压和近期随访结果进行回顾性分析。结果:38例患者完成POEM和术后3 d食管测压。术后3 d LESP较术前显著降低(P0.01),LES松弛率与术前相比无明显差异。术前和术后3 d食管体部均表现为蠕动性收缩消失,同步收缩比例增加。术后1个月随访,LESP仍显著低于术前(P0.05),37例患者吞咽困难明显好转,有效率为94.9%。结论:POEM治疗贲门失弛缓症近期内降低LESP和缓解临床症状效果明显,但对恢复食管蠕动功能作用有限。食管测压对贲门失弛缓症术后疗效评估有一定价值。     

经食管后壁内镜肌切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症的初步评价

目的 探讨经食管后壁内镜肌切开术(POEM)治疗贲门失弛缓症的有效性及安全性.方法 选择诊断明确的贲门失弛缓症患者,经食管后壁行POEM,观察手术前后患者的吞咽困难的积分、食管下括约肌静息压变化、手术并发症等.结果 28例贲门失弛缓症患者入选研究,其中26例患者顺利施行经食管后壁的POEM,平均手术时间68.8 min,无一例患者发生严重危及生命的手术并发症.26例患者术后食管下括约肌静息压力较术前平均降低16.37 mm Hg(1 mmHg =0.133 kPa),术后1个月Eckardt评分均分较术前降低6.69分,仅1例患者仍有吞咽困难,Eckardt评分为4分,总有效率96.1％ (25/26).1例患者术后出现反流症状.2例患者因贲门部严重疤痕形成而未能完成POEM手术.结论 经食管后壁POEM能即时有效地改善贲门失弛缓症患者吞咽困难的临床症状,有效降低食管下括约肌静息压力,短期疗效满意,其并发症尤其是气胸发生率较低,安全性较高.     

内镜下三种方法治疗贲门失弛缓症后下食管括约肌及体部动力学比较

目的 比较分析内镜下单纯扩张术、扩张加肉毒杆菌毒素注射术及支架扩张术治疗贲门失弛缓症后下食管括约肌(LES)及食管体部动力学变化情况.方法 将99例临床确诊的贲门失弛缓症患者分为扩张组、扩张注射组和支架组,分别进行内镜下单纯扩张术、扩张加肉毒杆菌毒素注射术及支架扩张术治疗,并于治疗前、治疗后1周、治疗后6个月及治疗后12个月分别检测LES静息压、松弛率及食管体部顺行性收缩比例、非协调性收缩比例、LES上10 cm处的收缩幅度,比较分析治疗前后各项指标的变化值.结果 治疗前,各组LES静息压、食管体部非协调性收缩比例、收缩幅度均较正常值显著升高,LES松弛率及食管体部顺行性收缩比例则均显著降低,3组间差异无统计学意义.治疗后1周,3组间各项检测指标与术前比较的变化值差异均无统计学意义.治疗后6个月,扩张注射组和支架组LES静息压、LES松弛率、食管体部收缩幅度的改善情况均优于扩张组,P值分别为0.041、0.006、0.037和0.029、0.004、0.033,但扩张注射组和支架组间比较差异无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05).治疗后12个月,支架组LES静息压、LES松弛率、食管体部顺行性收缩比例、食管体部收缩幅度的改善情况均优于扩张组,P值分别为0.035、0.028、0.008、0.007,扩张注射组与扩张组比较则差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05).结论 内镜下单纯扩张术、扩张加肉毒杆菌毒素注射术及支架扩张术是治疗贲门失弛缓症的有效方法 ,近期疗效显著,远期复发率随时间延长均呈上升趋势,但支架扩张术的远期疗效相对优于其他两种方法 .     

贲门失弛缓症

贲门失弛缓症是一种病因尚未明确、累及食管平滑肌和下食管括约肌（LES）的动力障碍性疾病。以吞咽时食管体部蠕动消失、LES松弛障碍为特征,临床表现为吞咽困难和胸痛等。本病可根据临床表现结合内镜、食管钡餐造影和食管动力学检查等确诊。本文就贲门失弛缓症的流行病学现状、发病机制、临床表现和诊断相关研究进展作一概述。     

食管测压在评估气囊扩张术治疗贲门失弛缓症疗效中的作用

背景：贲门失弛缓症是原发性食管运动功能障碍性疾病，气囊扩张术是目前治疗本病的主要方法之一。目的：探讨食管压力测定在评估气囊扩张术治疗贲门失弛缓症疗效中的作用。方法：予21例贲门失弛缓症患者内镜下气囊扩张术，治疗前后行食管压力检测，分析食管下括约肌（LES）和食管体部各参数的变化。结果：扩张后，21例患者的吞咽困难和反流症状消失。与扩张前相比，扩张后LES长度无显著差异，LES静息压和LES残余压显著降低（P〈0．01），LES松弛率显著升高（P〈0．05）。扩张后食管体部同步收缩波和吞咽蠕动波消失的发生率较扩张前无显著差异，继发性收缩波和食管体部静息压高于胃内静息压的发生率较扩张前显著降低（P〈0．01）。结论：气囊扩张术能显著提高LES松弛率，降低LES静息压、LES残余压、食管体部静息压和继发性蠕动波的发生率，迅速缓解患者症状。食管压力测定对评估气囊扩张术治疗贲门失弛缓症的疗效具有重要意义。     

内镜下球囊扩张联合括约肌内肉毒毒素注射治疗贲门失弛缓症的临床疗效

目的 探讨内镜下球囊扩张联合肉毒毒素注射治疗贲门失弛缓症的临床疗效.方法 选择86例贲门失弛缓症患者,其中41例接受内镜下单纯球囊扩张治疗,45例接受球囊扩张联合肉毒毒素注射治疗.分别于治疗前及治疗后1周、3个月、12个月时进行下食管括约肌压力、下食管括约肌松弛率检测和临床症状积分评测,观察其治疗后下食管括约肌压力、括约肌松弛率的变化以及临床疗效.结果 联合治疗患者治疗后1周、3个月、12个月有效率分别为91.11％ (41/45)、88.99％ (40/45)、80.00％( 36/45),单纯治疗患者则分别为60.98％ (25/41)、39.02％( 16/41)、19.52％(8/41);两组同时间点有效率比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05或＜0.01).联合治疗患者治疗前及治疗后1周、3个月、12个月时下食管括约肌压力分别为(47.04±6.49)、(25.17±2.76)、(27.86±2.43)、(31.97±3.21)mmHg,下食管括约肌松弛率分别为(38.79±3.26)％、(58.84±5.42)％、(55.35±5.64)％、(51.05±5.93)％;单纯治疗患者同时间点下食管括约肌压力分别为(46.56±6.63)、(31.15±1.31)、(38.83±2.36)、(43.40±1.27)mmHg,下食管括约肌松弛率分别为(37.36±4.03)％、(47.48±6.11)％、(44.15±5.89)％、(39.45±4.96)％;两种治疗方法以上两指标同时间点比较差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.05),且患者均无严重并发症发生.结论 球囊扩张联合肉毒毒素注射治疗贲门失弛缓症能有效改善患者临床症状及食管动力学状态.     

贲门失弛缓症的治疗

贲门失弛缓症是一种病因尚未明确、累及食管平滑肌和下食管括约肌（LES）的动力障碍性疾病。以吞咽时食管体部蠕动消失、LES松弛障碍为特征。本病的治疗方式包括药物、注射肉毒杆菌毒素、气囊扩张术和肌切开术,旨在降低LES压力,促进食管排空,多数患者可获得较理想的结局。本文就贲门失弛缓症的治疗现状作一综述。     

经口内镜下环形肌切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症的临床研究

贲门失弛缓症( achalasia of cardia,AC)是一种病因未明的原发性食管运动障碍性疾病,其发病机制是食管下端括约肌( lower esophageal sphincter,LES)基础压持续升高和LES松弛障碍导致.临床上主要表现为吞咽困难、胸痛、消瘦和食物反流.目前内镜下治疗AC的方法主要有肉毒杆菌镜下注射、球囊扩张、放置食管支架、微波等,但这些方法疗效不肯定,复发率较高;外科治疗疗效虽较好,但手术创伤大,恢复慢,住院时间长,手术费用也较高[1-2].近期,我院内镜中心在积累大量内镜治疗食管病变经验的基础上,开展了经口内镜下肌切开术(peroral endoscopic myotomy,POEM)治疗贲门失弛缓症,报道如下.     

经口内镜肌切开术对贲门失弛缓症患者食管动力的影响

目的探讨经口内镜肌切开术（POEM）对贲门失弛缓症患者食管动力的影响。方法对3例贲门失弛缓症患者POEM治疗前后的食管测压结果进行对比分析。结果术后3例患者食管下括约肌压力（LESP）和食管上括约肌残余压（UESRP）均低于术前,且差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;术后食管下括约肌残余压（LESRP）有2例明显降低至正常值,有1例变化不大,仍高于正常,平均值较术前降低但差异无统计学意义;术前3例患者均有食管蠕动波消失,术后食管蠕动波均无改善;3例患者术前食管下括约肌松弛率（LESRR）均低于正常值,术后仍均低于正常;食管上括约肌压（UESP）平均值术后较术前降低,但差异无统计学意义。结论POEM近期能明显改善贲门失弛缓症患者的食管动力学特征。     

内镜下注射肉毒毒素治疗贲门失弛缓症的研究

将48例贲门失弛缓症患者随机分为两组，A组注射肉毒毒素治疗，B组用小气囊扩张治疗。分别于治疗后1周、3个月和1年比较两组患者的临床症状积分、下食管插约肌的压力（LESP）、松弛率（LESRR）。结果：治疗后1周、3个月和1年的有效率及治疗前后LESP、LESRR的差值，注射肉毒毒素组均高于小气囊扩张组；两组均无并发症发生。认为内镜下食管下括约肌内注射肉毒毒素治疗贲门失弛缓症的近期疗效高，且患者痛苦小。     

Pneumatic balloon dilatation in primary achalasia: the long-term follow-up results

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pneumatic dilatation is a safe and most effective treatment for achalasia. We analyzed the long-term results of pneumatic dilatation in primary achalasia by objective and subjective findings. METHODOLOGY: Pneumatic dilatation was performed in patients that were diagnosed with primary achalasia in our manometry laboratory between 1993-1999 years. We evaluated patients with clinical, radiologic, endoscopic and manometric results before treatment. Mean esophageal diameters on the level of the lower esophageal sphincter and middle esophagus were measured by barium esophagograms. The patients were clinically reevaluated after one week and barium esophagograms were repeated one month later after dilatation. Clinical examination, endoscopy and manometry were done at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and repeated yearly for follow-up period. A statistical comparison of pre- and posttreatment on the frequency of dysphagia, radiological diameter of the esophagus and manometric data was performed using unpaired t tests and chi2 tests. RESULTS: Pneumatic dilatation was performed on 50 adult patients with a mean age 41.42+/-18.07 years. A single dilatation was successful in forty patients (80%) and two to three dilatations were performed in ten (20%) patients. The median number of dilatations was 1.26. In the postdilatation period, mean short-term (< 1 year) and long-term (2-7 years) clinical improvement was 82.8% and 66.85% respectively. The mean diameter of the esophagus was regressed to 26.51+/-7.69 mm from 36.66+/-11.23 mm (p<0.001) and the mean diameter of the lower esophageal sphincter was increased to 8.38+/-3.12 mm from 2.58+/-1.13 mm (p<0.001) with pneumatic dilatation. The mean pretreatment pressure of lower esophageal sphincter was 41.14+/-11.34 mmHg and these values were 18.79+/-7.85 mmHg (p<0.001), 13.18+/-9.53 mmHg (p<0.001) in the 1st, and 5th years of the posttreatment period, respectively. The mean pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter was 31.78+/-8.91 mmHg in nonresponder patients during the posttreatment period; there was no significant difference prior to pneumatic dilatation (p>0.1). Surgical operation was performed on 5 patients (10%), who had no benefit from pneumatic dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumatic dilatation is an effective procedure in the treatment of primary achalasia during the short- and long-term period. Treatment evaluation can possibly be made objectively with radiographic and manometric alterations of esophagus that occurred after pneumatic dilatation.     

Endoscopic treatment of esophageal achalasia

Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus characterized by dysphagia, regurgitation of undigested food, chest pain, weight loss and respiratory symptoms. The most common form of achalasia is the idiopathic one. Diagnosis largely relies upon endoscopy, barium swallow study, and high resolution esophageal manometry(HRM). Barium swallow and manometry after treatment are also good predictors of success of treatment as it is the residue symptomatology. Short term improvement in the symptomatology of achalasia can be achieved with medical therapy with calcium channel blockers or endoscopic botulin toxin injection. Even though few patients can be cured with only one treatment and repeat procedure might be needed, long term relief from dysphagia can be obtained in about 90% of cases with either surgical interventions such as laparoscopic Heller myotomy or with endoscopic techniques such pneumatic dilatation or, more recently, with per-oral endoscopic myotomy. Age, sex, and manometric type by HRM are also predictors of responsiveness to treatment. Older patients, females and type Ⅱ achalasia are better after treatment compared to younger patients, males and type Ⅲ achalasia. Self-expandable metallic stents are an alternative in patients non responding to conventional therapies.     

Randomized controlled trial of intrasphincteric botulinum toxin A injection versus balloon dilatation in treatment of achalasia cardia

As the few randomized controlled trials available in the literature comparing botulinum toxin (BT) injection with established endoscopic treatment of achalasia cardia, i.e. pneumatic dilatation, showed conflicting results, we conducted a prospective randomized trial. Seventeen consecutive patients with achalasia cardia diagnosed during a period between December 1997 and February 2000 were randomized into two treatment groups [pneumatic dilatation by Rigiflex dilator (n=10), BT injection by sclerotherapy needle into four quadrants of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (n=7) 80 units in five cases, 60 units in two cases] after dysphagia grading, endoscopy, barium esophagogram, and manometry, all of which were repeated 1 week after treatment. Patients were followed up clinically for 35.2+/-14 weeks. Chi-squares, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used for statistical analysis. After 1 week, 6/7 (86%) BT-treated vs. 8/10 (80%) dilatation-treated patients improved (P=NS). There was no difference in LES pressure and maximum esophageal diameter in the barium esophagogram in the two groups before therapy. Both therapies resulted in significant reduction in LES pressure. The cumulative dysphagia-free state using the Kaplan-Meier method decreased progressively in BT-treated compared with dilatation-treated patients (P=0.027). Two patients with tortuous megaesophagus, one of whom had failed dilatation complicated by perforation previously, improved after BT. One other patient in whom pneumatic dilatation had previously failed improved in a similar manner. BT is as good as pneumatic dilatation in achieving an initial improvement in dysphagia of achalasia cardia. It is also effective in patients with tortuous megaesophagus and previous failed pneumatic dilatation. However, dysphagia often recurs during 1-year follow up.     

Case Report: Botulinum Toxin in Hypertensive Lower Esophageal Sphincter: A Manometric Case Study

The hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (HLES) is a disorder of esophageal motility associated with dysphagia and chest pain. Although well characterized manometrically, opinions differ greatly with regard to its pathophysiology and its management. Therapy is limited to a few medications, esophageal dilatation, and even surgery, although none of these options are consistently successful. In this case report we describe a 54-year-old woman with HLES and dysphagia who was successfully treated with botulinum toxin injection of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Esophageal manometry after botulinum toxin therapy revealed normalization of LES pressures. Three months after therapy, symptoms returned and repeat esophageal manometry demonstrated the return of elevated LES pressures. This report is the only published case of botulinum toxin injection into the LES with both pre- and post-treatment esophageal manometric data. This case report is evidence that LES dysfunction produces symptoms in patients with HLES, and that reduction in LES pressure improves symptoms. Current pathophysiologic hypotheses for HLES-associated dysphagia and its treatment are briefly reviewed in this report.     

Medical treatment of esophageal achalasia

Calcium channel blockers have been previously shown to decrease lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and improve symptoms in achalasia. We performed a placebocontrolled, double-blind, crossover study to assess the effects of oral nifedipine and verapamil on LES pressure, amplitude of esophageal body contraction, and clinical symptomatology in eight patients with symptomatic achalasia diagnosed by endoscopy, barium swallow, and manometry. Patients were randomized to receive up to 20 mg nifedipine, 160 mg verapamil, or placebo and underwent esophageal manometry before (baseline) and after four weeks on each drug. Diary cards were kept to record and grade symptoms and drug plasma level determinations were correlated with manometric and clinical findings. Both nifedipine and verapamil caused a statistically significant decrease in mean LES pressure, but only nifedipine caused a significant decrease in the amplitude of contractions of the smooth muscle portion of the esophagus. No statistically significant differences in the overall clinical symptomatology were noted with any of the drugs, although some individual improvements in dysphagia and chest pain were noted. We conclude that, despite the reduction in LES pressure and contraction amplitude of the distal esophageal body, oral nifedipine and verapamil do not significantly alter the clinical symptomatology of patients with achalasia.This work was presented in part at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, Miami Beach, Florida, October 1985, and published in abstract form in theAmerican Journal of Gastroenterology 80:833, 1985.     

Intrasphincteric botulinum toxin injection in the treatment of chagasic achalasia.

According to the WHO, 16-18 million people in Central and South America are infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagasic achalasia affects between 7.1% and 10.6% of the population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Botox injections in the clinical response and esophageal function of patients with dysphagia due to chagasic achalasia. In total, 24 symptomatic patients with chagasic achalasia were randomly chosen to receive Botulinum Toxin (BT) or saline injected by endoscopy in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Patients were monitored with a clinical score of dysphagia and an objective assessment (esophagograms, scintillography, manometry, and nutritional assessment) for a period of 6 months. Clinical improvement of dysphagia was statistically significant (P < 0.001) in patients receiving BT when compared with the placebo. There was no significant difference in the placebo group regarding clinical score, LES basal pressure and esophageal emptying time. Esophageal emptying time in the toxin group was significantly lower than in the placebo (P=0.04) after 90 days. There were non-significant increases in esophageal emptying of 25.36% and 17.39%, respectively, at 90 and 180 days, in the BT group (P=0.266). Gender, age, and baseline LES pressure did not influence the response to BT. Our data strongly suggests that intrasphincteric injection of BT in LES is clinically effective in the treatment of chagasic achalasia.     

Clinical remission following endoscopic placement of retrievable,fully covered metal stents in patients with esophageal achalasia

Metal stents may represent an alternative therapy in the treatment of achalasia. We therefore evaluated the effectiveness of retrievable, fully covered metal stents in patients with achalasia. Fifty‐nine patients with achalasia were treated with retrievable, fully covered metal stents. Symptoms using a global symptom score (0–10), lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resting pressure, LES relaxation, and simultaneous contraction of the esophagus were analyzed before and 1 week and 1 month after intervention. Complications and treatment outcomes were followed up at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. Stent placement was successful, and clinical symptoms resolved (P < 0.01) in all patients. Regurgitation, dysphagia and chest pain improved significantly (all P < 0.01). Therapy improved LES resting pressure (51.4 ± 9.7 mmHg pretherapy vs. 20.9 ± 8.1 mmHg post‐therapy), LES relaxation (58.1 ± 17.1% pretherapy vs. 84.5 ± 18.9% post‐therapy), and simultaneous contraction of the esophagus (36.1 ± 8.6% pretherapy vs. 69.4 ± 23.1% post‐therapy) 1 month after stent placement (all P < 0.01). The cumulative clinical remission rates 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after stent removal were 90.9%, 81.8%, 76.4%, 69.1%, 65.5%, and 49.1%, respectively. All patients tolerated stent placement. Twelve patients (25.5%) complained of substernal pain and five (10.6%) had substernal burning. Stents migrated in four patients (8.5%). Insertion of retrievable, fully covered metal stents is an effective and safe treatment in patients with achalasia.