Esophageal Stricture Digestive Disorder

Esophageal stricture is a digestive disorder characterized by the narrowing of the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. The narrowing occurs when scar tissue forms in the esophagus, leading to difficulty in swallowing food and liquids.

Esophageal stricture is often caused by long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where stomach acid refluxes back into the esophagus and irritates the lining, leading to inflammation and scarring. Other causes of esophageal stricture may include swallowing harmful chemicals or irritants, radiation therapy to the chest or upper abdomen, and frequent use of a nasogastric tube.

Symptoms of esophageal stricture include difficulty swallowing solid foods, sensation of food getting stuck in the chest or throat, pain or discomfort while swallowing, heartburn, acid reflux, regurgitation, and weight loss.

Treatment of esophageal stricture depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. In many cases, treatment involves stretching the esophagus using an endoscope or balloon dilation, which involves inserting a flexible tube with a balloon on the end into the esophagus and then inflating the balloon to stretch the narrow area. Other treatments may include medications to reduce inflammation, acid suppression medications, and surgery to remove the affected area of the esophagus. It is important to diagnose and treat esophageal stricture promptly to prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia or weight loss due to difficulty swallowing.