achalasia

Definition achalasia

achalasia: achalasia (cardiospasm) n. a condition in which the normal muscular activity of the oesophagus (gullet) is disturbed, which delays the passage of swallowed material. It may occur at any age; symptoms include difficulty in swallowing liquids and solids, slowly increasing over years; sometimes regurgitation of undigested food; and occasionally severe chest pain caused by spasm of the oesophagus. Diagnosis is by a barium X-ray examination. Treatment is by forceful stretching of the tight lower end of the oesophagus (cardia) or by surgical splitting of the muscular ring in that area (cardiomyotomy).