Publications Library
Topic: Esophageal Disorders
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Brochure, Fact Sheet: Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders of the Esophagus and Stomach
510This article reviews disorders caused by abnormal motility in the gastrointestinal tract (including GERD, dysphagia, functional chest pain, gastroparesis, and dyspepsia) and their characteristic symptoms, such as food sticking, pain, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
Also available offline as a glossy color brochure (3.5" x 8.5"). Contact IFFGD for details.
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Fact Sheet: Antidepressants and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
161Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders; they are unique drugs, which have a number of properties that make them particularly useful. In order to fully understand their usefulness in functional gastrointestinal disorders, three areas should be understood: how they work, the brain-gut relationship, and the role of antidepressants in treatment.
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Fact Sheet: Why Symptom Criteria for Functional Gut Disorders?
182By: W. Grant Thompson, MD, FRCPC
The "functional" gut disorders are syndromes (groups of symptoms) believed to arise from the gastrointestinal tract, but which lack a known cause. The purpose is to update the criteria upon which the diagnoses of functional gut disorders rest.
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Fact Sheet: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Heartburn, Dyspepsia: What’s the Difference?
226By: W. Grant Thompson, MD, FRCPC
The anatomical diseases Crohn’s, peptic ulcer, and esophagitis have functional counterparts with some similar symptoms; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dyspepsia, and functional heartburn, but these cannot be identified by x-ray or gastroscopy. Thus, for the diagnosis of these functional disorders doctors must rely entirely upon the patient’s description of his or her symptoms.
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Fact Sheet: Upper GI Endoscopy: What to Expect
503By: W. Grant Thompson, MD, FRCPC
Describes what to expect when undergoing an upper GI endoscopic exam that may look at the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Reviewed and updated 2009.
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Fact Sheet: Functional Dysphagia
507By: Joel Richter, MD
Functional dysphagia is the sensation of solid and/or liquid foods sticking, lodging, or passing abnormally through the esophagus. It is diagnosed based on symptoms present for at least three months and not associated with anatomic abnormalities, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or well recognized motility disorders such as achalasia [difficulty swallowing due to an absence of peristaltic contractions in the esophagus].
Topics: Esophageal Disorders, Swallowing -
Fact Sheet: Globus: "It Brings a Lump to Your Throat"
508By: W. Grant Thompson, MD, FRCPC
Who has not experienced a lump or ball in the throat with an intense emotional experience? Typically, the sensation of globus is felt in the throat at the level of the Adam's apple. Reviewed and updated 2009.
Topics: Esophageal Disorders -
Fact Sheet: Unexplained Chest Pain: It May Be In The Esophagus
517By: Philip O. Katz, MD, FACP, FACG
Unexplained chest pain (UCP) located in the mid-chest area behind the breastbone (substernal) is a common problem seen in clinical practice. UCP causes anxiety for both patient and physician because of the uncertainty regarding possible underlying coronary artery disease. This phenomenon is frequently called "non-cardiac" pain; however, the term "UCP" is preferred because even patients with normal coronary arteries will occasionally have evidence of reduced blood supply to the heart (myocardial ischemia).
Topics: Esophageal Disorders, Pain Management -
Fact Sheet: Esophageal Motility Disorders
518Difficulty swallowing liquids or solids, heartburn, regurgitation, and atypical (or non-cardiac) chest pain may be symptoms of an esophageal motility disorder. These disorders are characterized by specific criteria based upon the pressures generated within the esophagus when swallowing occurs.
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Fact Sheet: Barrett's Esophagus
527By: W. Grant Thompson, MD, FRCPC; Ronnie Fass, MD
Norman Barrett was a pathologist. In 1950, he described an abnormality in the lining of the lower esophagus that bears his name (i.e., Barrett's esophagus). We now believe that it is due to severe, longstanding, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Significantly, most people with GERD have no such abnormality. Nevertheless, the presence of Barrett's esophagus is an important observation since those who have it are at greater than normal risk of developing cancer of the esophagus. A review of diagnosis, management, and treatment. Revised and updated 2012.
Topics: Esophageal Disorders, GER, GERD
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