BACKGROUND: It is shown that esophageal motor disorders, such as diffuse esophageal spasm, may progress to achalasia. It is also known a link between gastroesophageal reflux disease and some of these motor disorders. CASE REPORT: Patient complaining of chest pain, dysphagia and weight loss for two months. The first endoscopy suggested only motility disorders. Esophageal manometry was done and showed changes in body compatible with diffuse esophageal spasm, without changes in lower esophageal sphincter. Treatment with pantoprazole and nifedipine for eight months was done, but the patient remained symptomatic. After stopping medication for 10 days, an esophageal pH-metry was realized and showed gastro-esophageal reflux. She was submitted to treatment with esomeprazole and nifedipine. After two months, with persistence of the symptoms, a new endoscopy showed food stasis, and esophageal manometry body esophageal aperistalsis. At this point, surgical treatment (Heller cardiomyotomy with fundoplication) was done. Endoscopy of the third postoperative month showed fundoplication well adjusted to the endoscope. In follow-up, patient remained asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between esophageal motor disorders and gastroesophageal reflux disease, and surgical treatment to correct achalasia and gastroesophageal reflux at the same time, may be indicated in selected cases.
Esophageal achalasia; Gastroesophageal reflux; Diffuse esophageal spasm
