Achalasia Cardia: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

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Achalasia Cardia is a rare disorder that makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass from the swallowing tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus) into your stomach.

Achalasia Cardia occurs when nerves in the esophagus become damaged. As a result, the esophagus becomes paralyzed and dilated over time and eventually loses the ability to squeeze food down into the stomach. Food then collects in the esophagus, sometimes fermenting and washing back up into the mouth, which can taste bitter. Some people mistake this for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, in achalasia the food is coming from the esophagus, whereas in GERD the material comes from the stomach.

There's no cure for Achalasia Cardia. Once the esophagus is paralyzed, the muscle cannot work properly again. But symptoms can usually be managed with endoscopy, minimally invasive therapy or surgery.

achalasia cardia definition - pathophysiology

What are the Symptoms of Achalasia Cardia?

Achalasia symptoms generally appear gradually and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms may include:

Inability to swallow (dysphagia), which may feel like food or drink is stuck in your throat
Regurgitating food or saliva
Heartburn
Belching
Chest pain that comes and goes
Coughing at night
Pneumonia (from aspiration of food into the lungs)
Weight loss
Vomiting

Types of Achalasia Cardia

Achalasia is a heterogeneous disease categorized into three distinct types based on manometric patterns of the oesophagus (pressure and movement measurements of oesophagal contractions during swallowing), including:

Type I: It is also called classic achalasia. The oesophagus doesn’t move food down well in this condition but shows minimal contractility (very little activity).

Type II: In this type, pressure builds up in the esophagus, causing it to become compressed with intermittent periods of panesophageal pressurization, where the entire esophagus exerts pressure to push food down, but this doesn’t happen consistently.

Type III: It is also known as spastic achalasia because it involves premature or spastic contractions in the lower part (bottom) of the oesophagus, where it meets the stomach, which is the most severe type of achalasia. The contractions may cause chest pain that can wake a person from sleep and mimic the symptoms of a heart attack.

achalasia cardia symptoms | achalasia signs and symptoms

What are the Causes of Achalasia Cardia?

The exact cause of achalasia cardia is not known clearly. Super specialist suspect it may be caused by a loss of nerve cells in the esophagus. There are scientific papers about what causes this, but viral infection or autoimmune responses have been suspected. Very rarely, achalasia cardia may be caused by an inherited genetic disorder or infection.

How to diagnose Achalasia Cardia?

Achalasia Cardia can be overlooked or misdiagnosed because it has symptoms similar to other digestive disorders. To test for achalasia cardia, we recommend:

Esophageal manometry: This test measures the rhythmic muscle contractions in your esophagus when you swallow, the coordination and force exerted by the esophagus muscles, and how well your lower esophageal sphincter relaxes or opens during a swallow. This test is the most helpful when determining which type of motility problem you might have.
X-rays of your upper digestive system (esophagram): X-rays are taken after you drink a chalky liquid that coats and fills the inside lining of your digestive tract. The coating allows doctor to see a silhouette of your esophagus, stomach and upper intestine. You may also be asked to swallow a barium pill that can help to show a blockage of the esophagus.
Upper endoscopy: Gastroenterologist inserts a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera (endoscope) down your throat, to examine the inside of your esophagus and stomach. Endoscopy can be used to define a partial blockage of the esophagus if your symptoms or results of a barium study indicate that possibility. Endoscopy can also be used to collect a sample of tissue (biopsy) to be tested for complications of reflux such as Barrett's esophagus.

What are the treatment options available for Achalasia Cardia?

Achalasia Cardia treatment focuses on relaxing or stretching open the lower esophageal sphincter so that food and liquid can move more easily through your digestive tract.

Specific treatment depends on your age, health condition and the severity of the achalasia.

Medication: Gastroenterologist might suggest muscle relaxant before eating. These medications have limited treatment effect and severe side effects. Medications are generally considered only if you're not a candidate for pneumatic dilation or surgery, and other medications hasn't helped. This type of therapy is rarely indicated.

Surgical options for treating achalasia cardia include:

Heller Myotomy: The surgeon cuts the muscle at the lower end of the esophageal sphincter to allow food to pass more easily into the stomach. The procedure can be done non-invasively (Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy). Some people who have a Heller myotomy may later develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

To avoid future problems with GERD, a procedure known as fundoplication might be performed at the same time as a Heller myotomy. In fundoplication, the surgeon wraps the top of your stomach around the lower esophagus to create an anti-reflux valve, preventing acid from coming back (GERD) into the esophagus. Fundoplication is usually done with a minimally invasive (laparoscopic) procedure.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM): In the POEM procedure, the Gastroenterologists uses an endoscope inserted through your mouth and down your throat to create an incision in the inside lining of your esophagus. Then, as in a Heller myotomy, the surgeon cuts the muscle at the lower end of the esophageal sphincter.

POEM may also be combined with or followed by later fundoplication to help prevent GERD. Some patients who have a POEM and develop GERD after the procedure are treated with daily oral medication.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Achalasia Cardia

Is achalasia cardia hereditary?

No, achalasia cardia is not an inherited genetic disorder.

Can achalasia cause heart problems?

No, achalasia cardia can never cause heart disease or condition.

Can you die from achalasia cardia?

Yes, a person can die from achalasia cardia because of large food or water content into the esophagus; regurgitating into the windpipe (trachea) causing aspiration, pneumonia and choking.