0 a condition in which the sphincter muscle of the oesophagus does not relax enough to allow someone to swallow normally:
Unlike achalasia, diffuse oesophageal spasm has no specific histological changes and again the underlying aetiology is unknown.
The prevalence of clinically significant spasm is felt to be approximately similar to that of achalasia at around 1 per 100 000.
If achalasia suspected an upper endoscopy is required to exclude a malignancy as a cause of the findings on barium swallow.
Gastroenterologists who specialize in achalasia have performed many of these forceful balloon dilatations and achieve better results and fewer perforations.
The most common form is primary achalasia, which has no known underlying cause.
An author search at can be used to find studies on a surgeon's past experience with achalasia patients.
Persons with achalasia lack nonadrenergic, noncholinergic, inhibitory ganglion cells, causing an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission.
Achalasia is characterized by difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, and sometimes chest pain.
