Achalasia

What is the oesophagus?

The gullet (oesophagus) contains muscles. These muscles contract in a rhythmic way to allow your food to pass down your oesophagus. This is known as peristalsis. At the lower end of your oesophagus there is a ring of muscle called a sphincter. This sphincter relaxes to allow food to pass from the oesophagus into your stomach. But, the sphincter contracts when no food is passing down, to stop food passing back up (refluxing) into the oesophagus.

Diagram of upper gut and nearby organs

Diagram of normal stomach

 

What is achalasia?

In the gullet (oesophagus) there are both muscles and nerves. Achalasia affects both the muscles and the nerves of the oesophagus, especially initially the nerves that cause the sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach to relax. The muscles do not contract properly so the rhythmic contraction of muscles, which allows your food to pass down your oesophagus (peristalsis), does not occur correctly. In addition, the sphincter does not relax properly so food cannot pass through into your stomach easily. This makes it difficult for you to swallow food properly.

The main part of your oesophagus then becomes enlarged and widened (dilated) with time.

How common is achalasia and who is affected by it?

Achalasia is a very uncommon condition. Less than 1 in 100,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with it each year. It mainly affects adults aged between 20-40 years. In most cases, no underlying cause can be found and the reason why the nerves and muscles in the gullet (oesophagus) do not work so well is not clear. It is more common in people with Chagas' disease (an infectious disease more common in South America), Parkinson's disease and stomach cancer. However, the majority of people with these conditions do not have achalasia.

 

What are the symptoms of achalasia?

The most common symptom is difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) both food and liquids. You may also notice that some of your food feels as if it is sticking in your chest after you have eaten. It can also be common to lose weight, as you cannot swallow all your food. You may also have some chest pains or a heavy sensation on your chest. Some people also develop a cough, which is sometimes worse at night. Heartburn is also fairly common.

As your gullet (oesophagus) dilates, you may find that some of your food is brought back up (regurgitated). If this happens during the night you may experience some choking or coughing.

What are the tests for achalasia?

Most people will have had achalasia for a length of time, even for years, before the diagnosis is made. Various tests may be advised if your doctor thinks you may have achalasia. These usually include one or more of the following:

Barium swallow

This is a specialised X-ray test. In this test, X-rays of your gullet (oesophagus) are taken after you swallow a liquid called barium, which shows up as white on the X-ray. This test will show if your oesophagus has widened (dilated). It will also show if the barium stays in your oesophagus for longer than normal. See separate leaflet called Barium Swallow/Meal/Follow Through for more details.

Manometry

In this test, the pressure that is generated within your oesophagus when you swallow is monitored. During this test, a thin tube is placed through your nose, down the back of your throat and into your oesophagus. This test can often detect earlier changes than a barium swallow can.

Gastroscopy - sometimes called endoscopy

A gastroscope (endoscope) is a thin, flexible telescope. It is passed through the mouth, into the oesophagus and down towards the stomach and the first section of the intestine (the duodenum). The endoscope contains fibre-optic channels which allow light to shine down so the doctor or nurse can see inside your oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. See separate leaflet called Gastroscopy (Endoscopy) for more details.

What are the treatment options for achalasia?

There are different treatments available. These include:

Medication

Various medicines can help to relax the sphincter at the lower end of the gullet (oesophagus). Examples include calcium-channel blockers (such as nifedipine) and nitrates (such as isosorbide dinitrate). These work best when achalasia is first diagnosed. However, they usually only work in the short term and are most often prescribed for people who cannot have other forms of treatment.

Dilatation

This is a procedure in which the sphincter is made wider (dilated). This is done by using a balloon which is inflated to stretch the sphincter. This is done with the use of a gastroscope, to ensure the balloon is in the correct position.

Surgery

In some cases, the muscle fibres in the sphincter are divided (cut) during an operation. This is often done by keyhole surgery. This is usually very successful at easing the symptom of difficulty swallowing. However, it may cause complications such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. This is a condition where the acid from your stomach comes up into your oesophagus. This can cause heartburn.

Botulinum toxin

This is another method of treating achalasia. Botulinum toxin acts as a muscle relaxant and is injected into the sphincter to weaken the muscle. This is usually a safe treatment. However, it only works for a few months, so further injections are often necessary. It may be more suitable for people who are unable to have surgery.

What are the possible complications of achalasia?

The main complication of achalasia is weight loss. Another possible complication is that if food is brought up again (regurgitated), there is a risk that some food can enter the lungs. This can then lead to an infection in the lungs. This type of infection is known as aspiration pneumonia. It is usually treated with antibiotic medicines but it can be more difficult to treat than other types of pneumonia. You are also at increased risk of developing some inflammation of the lining of your gullet (oesophagus), due to the food and fluid which collect in your gullet and cause irritation. This is called oesophagitis.

There are also possible complications of some of the treatments. For example, widening (dilatation) of the sphincter can sometimes lead to a puncture (perforation) of the oesophagus. If this occurs, it will need an emergency operation to repair it.

There is a slightly increased risk of developing cancer of the oesophagus if it contains a large amount of food which does not pass into the stomach in the normal way. Your doctor will be able to discuss this with you in more detail.