Esophageal Abnormalities

Human life relies on two basic supplies, oxygen and food. Oxygen can be utilized directly, but food has to go through a long process of digestion to become usable nutrients. The esophagus is the beginning part of this long journey. Because of its critical location, any abnormalities in this part of the body can be devastating and life-threatening and difficult to treat. This book covers many aspects of esophageal disorders, from congenital diseases to cancer. It includes 11 chapters written by highly experienced scholars from all over the world. It is our intention to provide readers an update in esophageal study and to raise the awareness how important this organ to our entire body system.

THE ESOPHAGUS The Esophagus investigates the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the esophagus. This sixth edition, revised and updated throughout, also explores the diagnosis and treatment of various esophageal conditions. It includes treatment guidelines approved by the two largest gastroenterology societies, the ACG and AGA, as befits a work co-edited by two former presidents of those organizations. Advancements in diagnostics are presented, as are developments in the surgical and drug therapies. Presented in full colour, and boasting an unrivalled team of editors and contributing authors, The Esophagus Sixth Edition will find a home wherever the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the esophagus are studied and taught. This book is accompanied by a website containing all the figures from the book in PowerPoint format. www.wiley.com/go/richter/esophagus6e Praise for the Fifth Edition: “There is absolutely no doubt that this edition of the textbook will maintain its status as the go-to reference for esophageal conditions, and will remain a highly utilized and clinically useful resource for novice and experienced physicians and surgeons alike.” (Gastroenterology, 1 July 2013)

Deglutition or a swallow begins as a voluntary act in the oral cavity but proceeds autonomously in the pharynx and esophagus. Bilateral sequenced activation and inhibition of more than 25 pairs of muscles of mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus is required during a swallow. A single swallow elicits peristalsis in the pharynx and esophagus along with relaxation of upper and lower esophageal sphincters. Multiple swallows, at closely spaced time intervals, demonstrate deglutitive inhibition; sphincters remain relaxed during the entire period, but only the last swallow elicits peristalsis. Laryngeal inlet closure or airway protection is very important during swallow. Upper part of the esophagus that includes upper esophageal sphincter is composed of skeletal muscles, middle esophagus is composed of a mixture of skeletal and smooth muscles, and lower esophagus, including lower esophageal sphincter, is composed of smooth muscles. Peristalsis progresses in seamless fashion, despite separate control mechanism, from the skeletal to smooth muscle esophagus. The esophagus's circular and longitudinal muscle layers contract synchronously during peristalsis. Sphincters maintain continuous tone; neuromuscular mechanisms for tonic closure in the upper and lower esophageal sphincters are different. Lower esophageal sphincter transient relaxation, belching mechanism, regurgitation, vomiting, and reflux are mediated via the brain stem. Table of Contents: Introduction / Central Program Generator and Brain Stem / Pharynx-Anatomy, Neural Innervation, and Motor Pattern / Upper Esophageal Sphincter / Neuromuscular Anatomy of Esophagus and Lower Esophageal Sphincter / Extrinsic Innervation: Parasympathetic and Sympathetic / Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Recording Techniques / Motor Patterns of the Esophagus-Aboral and Oral Transport / Deglutitive Inhibition and Muscle Refractoriness / Peristalsis in the Circular and Longitudinal Muscles of the Esophagus / Neural and Myogenic Mechanism of Peristalsis / Central Mechanism of Peristalsis-Cortical and Brain Stem Control / Peripheral Mechanisms of Peristalsis / Central Versus Peripheral Mechanism of Deglutitive Inhibition / Neural Control of Longitudinal Muscle Contraction / Modulation of Primary and Secondary Peristalsis / Neural Control of Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Crural Diaphragm / Lower Esophageal Sphincter / Swallow-Induced LES Relaxation / Crural Diaphragm Contribution to EGJ and Neural Control / Transient LES Relaxation and Pharmacological Inhibition / Compliance of the EGJ / References

This pocket handbook provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of esophageal disorders. The text covers every prominent esophageal disorder and syndrome, with an emphasis on pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment/management strategies, and complications for each disorder or syndrome. Major aspects of the field covered include dysphagia, esophageal motility disorders, esophageal malignancy, GERD, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The handbook is also presented in an easy to read format for quick reference and ease of use. Written by experts in the field, Pocket Handbook of Esophageal Disorders is a valuable resource for clinicians and trainees who treat patients with esophageal disorders.

Esophageal anomalies and disorders in infancy and childhood include a wide spectrum of different diseases. These range from emergencies immediately after birth such as esophageal atresia (EA), necessitating an experienced team of neonatologists and pediatric surgeons, up to gastro-esophageal reflux disease in elder children, necessitating the pediatric gastroenterologist and visceral surgeon. In the last few years some fascinating pediatric surgical techniques have evolved, such as the thoracoscopic correction of EA or the FOKER technique for elongation in cases of long-gap, EA. Prof. Foker has developed this special traction technique and is the world's leading expert in long-gap EA.

A guide to the techniques and analysis of clinical data. Each of the seventeen sections begins with a drawing and biographical sketch of a seminal contributor to the discipline. After an introduction and historical survey of clinical methods, the next fifteen sections are organized by body system. Each contains clinical data items from the history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations that are generally included in a comprehensive patient evaluation. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This is easily the most focused and comprehensive book available dedicated to the esophagus and its conditions, fully exploring anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment. Edited by two former presidents of the ACG and ASG, the world's two largest gastroenterology societies, the text offers approved treatment guidelines from these organizations. This new edition updates all chapters with the latest developments, highlighting advances in diagnostic techniques, and both surgical and drug treatment therapies for esophageal conditions. The new edition also features an electronic component, with searchable text and all figures available in slide format.

This book aims to review all of the literature, including landmark papers and the most current published data, in regard to the management of non-malignant foregut diseases. A number of surgeons publish and focus in malignant diseases of the esophagus, but this text emphasizes the benign ones, their problems and how to face them with the new available resources and technology. This book describes the different diagnostic tools available, as well as the different therapies for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its potential complications like Barret’s or strictures, and the associated anatomical abnormalities such as hiatal hernia or short esophagus, and more. Motility disorders of the esophagus, esophageal diverticula and perforations are also discussed. Different devices and approaches can be used to treat these diseases and they are covered and explained in different chapters of the book. Written by experts in the field, Benign Esophageal Disease provides surgeons and physicians with a concise and comprehensive summary of the current state of the field and will help guide patient management.