Achalasia PowerPoint Presentation By Amos Owusu

Introduction

• It’s absent or ineffective peristalsis of the distal esophagus, accompanied by failure of the esophageal sphincter to relax in response to swallowing.
• Narrowing of the esophagus just above the stomach results in a gradually increasing dilation of the esophagus in the upper chest.
• Achalasia is a rare disease of the muscle of the esophagus (swallowing tube). 
• The term achalasia means "failure to relax" and refers to the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle situated between the lower esophagus and the stomach) to open and let food pass into the stomach.
• As a result, patients with achalasia have difficulty in swallowing food.