Esophageal obstruction is a rather serious pathology that can be considered life-threatening. Serious consequences can only be avoided if you see a doctor in a timely manner. Depending on the severity of the disease, a method of treatment is determined. Next, we consider how the obstruction of the esophagus manifests itself, which causes the development of pathology and whether it is possible to get rid of it.
How does the disease develop?
Before considering symptoms and treatment, it is necessary to understand what is obstruction of the esophagus. With the development of such a pathological condition, the patency of the food lump through the esophagus is impaired. Obstruction can develop as an independent disease or as an exacerbation of other pathologies.
If there has been an injury to the walls of the esophagus, then healing forms a connective tissue, which can provoke obstruction. Next, we consider the causes of the development of pathology in more detail.
Stages of the development of the disease
This pathology in its development passes through several stages:
- The patient begins to feel some discomfort when swallowing, expressed unpleasant sensations appear behind the sternum.
- In the next stage, large pieces of food pass with difficulty, it becomes easier if you drink liquid at the same time as eating.
- It becomes difficult to take even pureed food.
- Pain in the esophagus occurs even with any fluid.
- Esophageal obstruction in the next stage is a critical stage when the passage of the esophagus is completely blocked. It becomes impossible to swallow even water.
It must be borne in mind that the sooner a pathology is discovered, the more effective the therapy will be.
Forms and degrees of disease
Two forms of pathology can be distinguished:
- The esophagus can narrow as a result of a benign lesion, for example, a chemical burn, the use of various caustic fluids, the presence of ulcers in the deep layers.
- Malignant obstruction develops on the background of cancer of the esophagus.
The disease also has degrees:
- The first degree is a narrowing of 9-11 mm.
- 2nd - narrowing diameter of 6-8 mm.
- The next degree is 3-5 mm.
- 4th degree 1-2 mm.
Reasons for the development of pathology
There are a large number of factors and diseases that can trigger the development of obstruction of the esophagus. Most often, the following are noted:
- Stenosis can be triggered by the use of chemical fluids or too hot drinks, for this reason you can not drink very hot drinks.
- Malignant and benign neoplasms in the esophagus.
- Mechanical injury to the esophagus, which is possible as a result of the ingress of foreign objects, injuries.
- Irritation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus by the contents of the stomach and gall bladder.
- Obstruction can develop as a result of infectious, inflammatory diseases.
- Pathology of connective tissue.
- The esophagus can also be damaged as a result of pathologies of the thyroid gland, for example, nodular goiter develops.
- There is even congenital obstruction, which develops in a child during intrauterine development.
How to recognize obstruction
The anatomy of the esophagus is such that the pathology can develop very quickly, so it is important to detect it as soon as possible. Symptoms may be as follows:
- The main sign of pathology is dysphagia, when painful and difficult swallowing occurs . The degree can vary from mild discomfort to difficulty swallowing water.
- There is pain when swallowing behind the sternum. You can confuse such symptoms with heart pain.
- Vomiting of eaten food with impurities of blood appears.
- Frequent burping with the smell of rotten eggs.
- Due to stenosis, the amount of food eaten is reduced, so the patient loses weight.
Do not ignore even the slightest signs of obstruction of the esophagus in adults and children. The sooner therapy is started, the better.
Diagnosis of the disease
Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step to effective treatment. The anatomy of the esophagus is such that it is practically impossible to visually determine the presence of pathology, therefore, the following methods are used for diagnosis:
- Eophagogastroduodenoscopy is a technique that allows you to assess the condition of the esophagus, the structure of its epithelium. If necessary, a biopsy is taken during the study.
- Ultrasound allows you to identify any pathology of the body.
- X-ray examination.
- Computed and magnetic tomography helps to differentiate the disease, confirm the diagnosis and detect associated problems.
Since obstruction leads to a change in clinical indicators, the patient is sent to the following tests:
- Determination of hemoglobin and protein content in the blood.
- Examination of feces for occult blood.
- General analysis of blood and urine.
After receiving all the results of the study and finding out the cause, treatment for the esophagus is prescribed.
Disease therapy
The tactics of treatment will completely depend on the severity of the pathology and the cause of its occurrence. For example, if a foreign body enters the esophagus, then it is removed using an esophagoscope with widening of the lumen. If oncology takes place, then one way of treatment is indispensable.
If we consider complex therapy of pathology, then treatment of the esophagus includes:
- Drug therapy.
- Surgery.
- The use of alternative methods of therapy.
- Diet therapy.
The best result can be obtained only with complex treatment.
We treat obstruction with drugs and surgery
After the cause of the pathology is established and the severity of the disease is identified, treatment tactics is chosen. It begins with the appointment of medications from the following groups:
- Antacids.
- Prokinetics.
- Preparations with astringent properties.
- Prescribe stimulants of recovery and accelerate regeneration.
- Proton inhibitors.
If drug therapy does not help and the obstruction of the esophagus does not ease its symptoms, then surgical treatment is indicated. Usually this method is necessary for cancer of the esophagus. Currently, several effective methods are used:
- Surgery with complete removal of the esophagus and replacing it with other tissues.
- Chemotherapy using anticancer agents.
- Radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy helps to reduce the size of the tumor so that it can be removed.
If a benign tumor is detected as a result of the study, then it is removed, expanding the esophagus with special tools.
Esophageal obstruction: treatment with folk remedies
Alternative medications can come to the aid of medical treatment. Infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants will help alleviate the patient's condition and reduce the manifestation of symptoms of pathology.
Before using folk recipes, you must always consult your doctor, because you can only aggravate the condition. To get rid of obstruction, use the following recipes:
- Decoction of oak bark. You can prepare a healing potion like this: take 30 grams of oak bark and cinquefoil, 40 grams of walnut and St. John's wort leaves and 20 grams of oregano leaves. Combine everything, grind the mixture and take 30 grams, pour 700 ml of water at room temperature. Insist for 3 hours, and then boil for 5 minutes. After straining, take the drug mixture half an hour before meals, 100 ml each.
- Composition based on wormwood. It is necessary to prepare 50 grams of wormwood, 75 arnica and 100 grams of femoral root. Place 45 grams of the mixture in a thermos and pour 400 ml of boiling water. Insist 10 hours, and then take 100 ml 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
- Mix raisins, honey, olive oil and hay grass and take 1 tablespoon before bedtime, washed down with water.
- Prepare a tincture of young walnuts on alcohol and take a teaspoon after a meal.
- Helps fight the obstruction of the esophagus of alder bark. The crushed raw materials must be poured with boiling water and insisted for 3 hours, and then taken 4 times a day after meals.
The most important thing in treatment is not to neglect the recommendations of the doctor, not to self-medicate.
We change the diet
Nutrition with obstruction of the esophagus depends on the severity of stenosis and the causes of pathology. Nutritionists recommend several dietary tables:
- No. 1. Full nutrition, but all dishes should be mashed and steamed or boiled. It is not recommended to eat too cold or hot dishes. During the day you need to eat often, but in small portions.
- Table number 2 involves the use of only liquid and semi-liquid dishes. Between meals, the interval is not more than 2.5 hours. The use of salt must be limited, exclude bread, sausages and smoked meats, buns and pies, sour fruits. Instead of strong tea and coffee, it is better to drink fruit drinks, compotes or decoctions of medicinal herbs.
- The table under No. 3 allows low-calorie meals with the exception of all product irritating the mucous membrane. All dishes must be grated and semi-liquid.
It must be remembered that nutrition correction should complement the main course of therapy.
Pathology Prevention
In order to prevent the disease, you need:
- Take measures to prevent the development of tumor processes in the esophagus.
- Keep all chemical liquids and caustic only in containers with signatures, so as not to accidentally confuse and in a place where the child can not reach.
- If gastroesophageal reflux occurs, you must follow a strict diet: do not overeat, do not eat irritating foods.
- Do not eat before bedtime: the last meal no later than 3 hours before going to bed.
- After eating, do not immediately take upright position.
- Keep track of your weight.
- Do not wear too tight clothes, tight belts.
- Do not overload physically.
To prevent the development of the disease is much simpler than later to engage in long-term treatment. When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is better to immediately visit a specialist, and not to self-medicate.