| oesophageal rupture | Named after Captain Boerhaave, a Dutch ship captain, who was the first patient this condition was described in. Traumatic rupture of the lower oesophagus can occur with significant blunt chest trauma, during CPR or in some conditions of forceful protracted vomiting. This condition is much more common in the patient with a pre-existing oesophageal disease such as reflux oesophagitis. The chest X-ray will typically show an abnormal left cardiac border with free fluid within the left hemithorax (pleural effusion). Patients will experience immediate chest pain, which may radiate to the neck, accompanied by shock, sepsis and death within 48 hours if untreated. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| oesophageal smear | A group of cytologic specimens containing material from the mouth (oral smear), oesophagus and stomach (gastric smear), duodenum (paraduodenal smear), and colon, obtained by specialised lavage techniques; used principally for the diagnosis of cancer of those areas. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal spasm | A disorder of the motility of the oesophagus characterised by pain or forceful eructations after swallowing food. Oesophageal muscle contractions are of excessive force and duration. Chest pain can be confused with symptoms of cardiac or other origin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal spasm, diffuse | A motor disorder of the oesophagus characterised by chest pain and dysphagia. Pathogenesis is unclear. Strong, nonpropulsive contractions of the oesophagus evoked by deglutition occur, especially in the elderly. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal spasms | A disorder characterised by episodic contractions of the oesophagus. The oesophageal spasms fail to effectively propel food to the stomach. Symptoms may be confused with angina. Common symptoms include chest pains, epigastric pain, heartburn, pain on swallowing and difficulty swallowing. Treatment includes the use of sublingual nitroglycerin and calcium channel blockers. (27 Sep 1997) |
| oesophageal speech | Speech produced with air trapped in the oesophagus and forced out again. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal stenosis | Stricture of the oesophagus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal stricture, acute | A narrowing or closure of the normal opening of the swallowing tube leading to the stomach, usually caused by scarring from acid irritation. Acute, complete obstruction of the oesophagus occurs when food (usually meat) is lodged in the oesophageal stricture. Patients experience chest pain, and are unable to swallow saliva. Attempts to relieve the obstruction by inducing vomiting at home are usually unsuccessful. Patients with complete oesophageal obstruction can breathe, and are not at any risk of suffocation. Endoscopy is usually employed to retrieve the meat and relieve the obstruction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal stricture, chronic | A longstanding narrowing or closure of the normal opening of the swallowing tube leading to the stomach, usually caused by scarring by acid irritation. Narrowing of the oesophagus. A common complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Severa procedures are available for stretching (dilating) the strictures without having to resort to surgery. One of the procedures involves placing a deflated balloon across the stricture at the time of endoscopy. The balloon is then inflated, thereby opening the narrowingcaused by the stricture. Another method involves inserting tapered dilators of different sizes through the mouth into the oesophagus to dilate the stricture. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal strictures | <radiology> Lye (NaOH, Drano), acids, drugs, tetracycline, doxycycline (Vibramycin), quinidine, potassium (KCl), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), iron tablets (FeSO4), cromolyn sulfate (inhalant), Clinitest tablets (for urine testing of diabetics), epidermolysis bullosa (in kiddies!!), increased risk of oesophageal carcinoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal trauma | <radiology> Emetic trauma: mucosal: Mallory-Weiss syndrome, intramural: intramural dissection, transmural: Boerhaave syndrome, non-emetic trauma: instrumentation, blunt trauma to chest, penetrating trauma, taco tear (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal ulcer | A hole in the lining of the oesophagus corroded by the acidic digestive juices secreted by the stomach cells. Ulcer formation is related to H. Pyloridus bacteria in the stomach, anti-inflammatory medications, and smoking cigarettes. Ulcer pain may not correlate with the presence or severity of ulceration. Diagnosis is made with barium X-ray or endoscopy. Complications of ulcers include bleeding and perforation. Treatment involves antibiotics to eradicate H. Pyloridus, eliminating risk factors, and preventing complications. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal ulceration or diverticula | <radiology> Oesophagitis, reflux, infection, caustic agent, drug-induced, radiation, oesophageal diverticula, intramural pseudodiverticulosis (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal ulcers | Circular erosions in the lining of the oesophagus. (27 Sep 1997) |
| oesophageal varices | Abnormal dilation of the veins in the oesophagus that occurs as the result of cirrhotic liver disease. Oesophageal varices are prone to bleed due to their fragility. See: cirrhosis. (27 Sep 1997) |