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Types of Achalasia Cardia
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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There are two types of cardiac achalasia.
- At type I, the tone of the walls and the form of the esophagus are preserved.
- At type II, the tone of the esophagus walls is lost, it is crooked and greatly enlarged.
There is no unified classification of achalasia of cardia. Most gastroenterologists classify achalasia of cardia in stages, depending on the severity of clinical manifestations and the presence of complications. We give one of the classifications in the presentation of Ts. G. Masevich (1995).
- Stage I (functional) - a temporary disruption of the passage of food through the cardiac section of the esophagus by stopping the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter during swallowing and some increase in its tone. Expansion of the esophagus is not yet, because the delay in food in it is short-lived.
- II stage - food delay is observed for a longer time and this leads to a moderate dilatation of the esophagus.
- III stage - a stable expansion of the esophagus and its narrowing in the lower part due to cicatricial changes.
- IV stage - a pronounced clinical picture of achalasia of the cardia, a stable expansion of the esophagus, the presence of complications - esophagitis, pereezophagitis.