megaoesophagus

A 2-months-old male German shepherd puppy was referred for regurgitation and delayed growth. Radiographic and endoscopic investigations revealed a precardiac megaoesophagus and oesophageal constriction at the level of the heart base. At post-mortem examination, a specific form of persistent right aortic arch characterized by an aberrant left subclavian artery in combination with a ligamentum arteriosum originating at the aberrant left subclavian artery (PRAA-SA-LA) was detected. A complete-type persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) was also observed...

Achalasia is an idiopathic motility disorder of the oesophagus of increasing incidence. It is characterized by aperistalsis of the lower oesophagus and failure of relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter. Patients classically present with chronic symptoms of dysphagia, chest pain, weight loss and regurgitation, and they commonly suffer pulmonary complications such as recurrent microaspiration of static, retained food contents of the upper oesophagus. However, it has also been described, uncommonly, to present with megaoesophagus and secondary tracheal compression...

When achalasia is unrecognised during the preoperative phase in patients who have undergone bariatric procedures, a late Heller oesophagomyotomy may be used as the treatment modality to prevent the development of megaoesophagus. We present the case of a 66-year-old man with achalasia 3 years after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure.

Three dogs presented for evaluation of acute onset tachypnoea and dyspnoea following episodes of vomiting and/or regurgitation. Thoracic radiographs were suggestive of a gastro-oesophageal intussusception in all three dogs; one dog also showed evidence of aspiration pneumonia. All three dogs underwent surgical correction with a bilateral incisional gastropexy. All dogs recovered from anaesthesia uneventfully and were discharged from the hospital 3 days after presentation. Persistent megaoesophagus was evident in all three dogs, and they are being chronically managed with a strict feeding regime and pro-motility agents...

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory distress and arrest from tracheal compression secondary to megaoesophagus are rare complications of achalasia. We present the case of a man with end-stage achalasia who required oesophagectomy to prevent recurrent life-threatening tracheal compression and respiratory arrest. A literature review is also presented. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 40-year old man presented with post-prandial stridor which resolved spontaneously, later being diagnosed with achalasia...

BACKGROUND: Canine dermatomyositis is a hereditary disease described in collies and Shetland sheep dogs and their cross-breeds. A similar disease, called dermatomyositis-like disease, has been described occasionally in other breeds but never in the Rottweiler. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: We report on the clinicopathological findings associated with dermatomyositis-like disease in a Rottweiler. ANIMAL: A 7-month-old female Rottweiler was referred for dermatological abnormalities, regurgitation and weakness...

Tryptase and chymase are mast cell (MC)-specific proteases, which influence in the activation of inflammatory cells. In this study, we quantified tryptase- or chymase-expressing MCs in the oesophaguses of Chagas patients, and searched for a correlation between those data with area of nerve fibres that expressed either PGP9.5 (pan-marker) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), which is a neuromediator that has anti-inflammatory activity. Samples from the oesophaguses of 14 individuals Trypanosoma cruzi-infected and from six uninfected individuals were analysed by immunohistochemistry...

Chagasic megaoesophagus and megacolon are characterised by motor abnormalities related to enteric nervous system lesions and their development seems to be related to geographic distribution of distinct Trypanosoma cruzi subpopulations. Beagle dogs were infected with Y or Berenice-78 (Be-78) T. cruzi strains and necropsied during the acute or chronic phase of experimental disease for post mortem histopathological evaluation of the oesophagus and colon. Both strains infected the oesophagus and colon and caused an inflammatory response during the acute phase...

The pathogenesis and evolutive pattern of Chagas disease suggests that the chronic phase should be more widely treated in order to (i) eliminate Trypanosoma cruzi and prevent new inflammatory foci and the extension of tissue lesions, (ii) promote tissue regeneration to prevent fibrosis, (iii) reverse existing fibrosis, (iv) prevent cardiomyopathy, megaoesophagus and megacolon and (v) reduce or eliminate cardiac block and arrhythmia. All cases of the indeterminate chronic form of Chagas disease without contraindications due to other concomitant diseases or pregnancy should be treated and not only cases involving children or recently infected cases...

Triple A syndrome is a rare disease of autosomal recessive inheritance. It was first described in 1978. The typical triad includes adrenocorticotrophic-hormone-resistant glucocorticoid insufficiency, reduced or absent tearing (alacrima) and achalasia. But clinical symptoms can be extremely heterogeneous and of variable clinically expression. This report describes a 7-year-old boy with a 1 year history of fatigue and muscle weakness. Physical examination showed skin and mucosal hyperpigmentation, and hormonal analysis revealed isolated glucocorticoid function...

Mrs FW, 83 years of age, presented to the emergency department with repeated episodes of attacks of vomiting over several months, coughing, weight loss and worsening shortness of breath. On examination she was not distressed, but mildly dehydrated. Chest examination revealed decreased air entry in both sides of the chest. Heart sounds were muffled. Other examination was within normal limits.

Originating from the ancient enzootic cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi, human Chagas disease (HCD) emerged focally in different points of America, in the Pre Christian period. Being slowly expanded as a consequence of internal migrations, HCD was settled in those locals where some vector species reached domiciliation and where different kinds of reservoirs entered in domestic environment , with major expression in the post Columbus era, particularly between the final of XIX Century and the middle of XX Century, when the maximum prevalence rates were attained...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Dysautonomia is caused by degeneration of the autonomic ganglia. Failure of the autonomic system affecting the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts can cause oesophageal distension and/or dysfunction, gastric and bowel distension and hypomotility, and urinary bladder distension. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe diagnostic imaging findings in cats with dysautonomia. Common findings were megaoesophagus and/or oesophageal dysfunction, gastric distension and signs of intestinal ileus. Associated aspiration pneumonia and megacolon appeared less commonly...

A case of hypertrophic osteopathy in a stray cat is reported. It was not known how long periosteal proliferation had been present prior to the time of first presentation. A few months later, megaoesophagus became apparent. Computer tomography was performed at least 18 months after periosteal proliferation had first become evident, but an underlying neoplasia was not identifed in association with the hypertrophic osteopathy. The hypertrophic osteopathy and the megaoesophagus were both successfully medically managed, and the cat continued to do well 33 months after the hypertrophic osteopathy was first evident...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Megaoesophagus, or oesophageal achalasia, is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by an absence of peristalsis and flaccid dilatation of the oesophagus, resulting in the retention of ingesta in the dilated segment. The aetiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic (or primary) megaoesophagus are still poorly understood and very little is known about the genetic causes of megaoesophagus in humans. Attempts to develop animal models of this condition have been largely unsuccessful and although the ICRC/HiCri strain of mice spontaneously develop megaoesophagus, the underlying genetic cause remains unknown...

A two-year-old male entire border collie dog was evaluated for a short history of mixed bowel diarrhoea, coughing, vomiting and stranguria. Physical examination revealed dyspnoea with increased ventral lung sounds and a flaccidly distended bladder. Neurological examination revealed poor pupillary light reflexes, an absent gag reflex and a poor anal tone. Thoracic radiography was consistent with megaoesophagus and aspiration pneumonia. Clinicopathological testing revealed an elevated muscular nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibody titre...

Megaoesophagus resulting from achalasia is a rare but serious cause of airway obstruction. The exact aetiology remains unclear. Achalasia normally presents as weight loss, dysphasia and regurgitation but frequently considerable oesophageal distension can occur without complain and very rarely cause of achalasia presents with stridor or respiratory distress. The authors presents a 19 -year old young lady who had respiratory symptoms and had been treated as a cause of chronic asthma, was found by us to have oesophagus achalasia...

A 6-month-old domestic shorthair female cat was presented with suspected diaphragmatic hernia (DH) that was later confirmed by thoracic radiography. The cat underwent exploratory celiotomy with a diaphragmatic rupture (DR) repair and recovered. Six days later, it was represented with vomiting and anorexia. Megaoesophagus (MO) and gastric dilatation were diagnosed by contrast radiography. A second celiotomy revealed no abnormalities and gastropexy was performed. Endoscopy demonstrated MO, oesophagitis and gastro-oesophageal reflux...