Diffuse esophageal spasm

2,164views

High Yield Notes

13 pages

Flashcards

Diffuse esophageal spasm

of complete

Questions

USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

of complete

A 60-year-old man comes to the clinic for evaluation of difficulty swallowing accompanied by chest pain. The patient had a few of these episodes in the past but did not seek treatment. The episodes occur while he is having a meal, but only occasionally. He describes difficulty in swallowing both liquids and solids. He has not noticed any pain during exertion. Medical history is noncontributory. The patient does not smoke or use illicit drugs, and he drinks alcohol socially. Temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 75/min, and blood pressure is 125/85 mmHg. ECG shows no abnormalities or ischemic changes. Two subsequent troponin measurements are within normal limits. Which of the following is most likely seen in this patient on further evaluation?  

Summary

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) is a condition characterized by uncoordinated and erratic contractions of the muscles in the wall of the esophagus. These contractions prevent food and liquids from passing through the stomach and can cause chest pain, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and regurgitation. DES can mimic myocardial ischemia in that both cause retrosternal intense chest pain, and both are relieved with the administration of nitrates.

Elsevier

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier, its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Cookies are used by this site.

USMLE® is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). COMLEX-USA® is a registered trademark of The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Inc. NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Osmosis or this website.

RELX