A Case of Esophageal Achalasia with Tracheal Stenosis

Abstract

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary complications due to repeated aspiration of food and secertion retained in dilated esophagus are often observed in the patient with esophageal achalasia.
A 22-year-old woman with a two year history of stridor and dysphagia was reported. Chest radiography, esophageal radiography, flexible fiber esophagoscopy and pulmonaryfunction tests were performed, and the clinical diagnosis was achalasia of the esophagus.
Lateral chest radiograms revealed the trachea compressed and anteriorly displaced by enormously dilated esophagus.
The flow-volume loop showed the so-called large airway obstructive pattern with a decrease in the peak expiratory flow followed by a low plateau phase.
The trachea compressed and constricted by considerable distension of the esophagus may be accountable for the stridor seen in this patient.