Contact ulcer of the esophagus: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Contact ulcers of the esophagus - a rare disease that occurs as a result of prolonged pressing contact of the walls of the esophagus, located in front between the plate of the cricoid cartilage and from behind - the body of the sixth cervical vertebra. Because of this, there are two "kissing" ulcers, one - on the front wall, the other - on the back. The proximity of the cricoid cartilage and the body of the sixth cervical vertebra is due to the emerging dystrophic changes in the cartilages of the intervertebral discs (spondylosis), leading to deformation of the cervical spine and bringing it closer to the larynx. Initially, there are ischemic events in the compressed parts of the esophagus, followed by trophic changes leading to the formation of ulcers. Similar changes in other segments of the esophagus may occur with prolonged exposure to the esophagus of the probe, foreign body, with aneurysm of the aorta and tumors squeezing the esophagus.
The pathomorphological process begins with the formation of superficial lesions of the esophageal mucosa, then the ulcerative-necrotic process spreads anteriorly, reaches the cricoid cartilage and destroys it. Clinically, these destructive phenomena are manifested by violations of the respiratory and swallowing functions. The disease, once emerged, develops rapidly, within 10-20 days, leading to severe disruption of functions, most often resulting in death.
Elderly age, weakness of cardiac activity, congestion in the esophagus, caused by a violation of hemodynamics in the liver, a general decline in strength - all this accelerates the process of the onset of decubital ulcers of the esophagus.
The drugs used to treat esophageal contact ulcers are very limited and often ineffective due to the rapid development of irreversible pathomorphological changes.
Prevention is the careful use of prolonged tube feeding of patients in old age, especially with chemical burns of the esophagus.
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