Skip to main content

Esophageal Chest Pain: Esophageal Spasm

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Abstract

Esophageal spasm is a rare esophageal motility disorder associated with dysphagia and chest pain that is characterized on esophageal manometry by uncoordinated and/or vigorous esophageal contractions. Diagnostic criteria and clinical significance of spastic esophageal disorders (which have included distal esophageal spasm and “nutcracker” or “jackhammer” esophagus) have fluctuated over time, which has contributed to the challenges associated with clinical management. This chapter describes the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management strategies associated with spastic esophageal motility disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aziz Q, Fass R, Gyawali CP, et al. Functional esophageal disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016;

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fass R, Dickman R. Non-cardiac chest pain: an update. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2006;18(6):408–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Richter JE, Castell DO. Diffuse esophageal spasm: a reappraisal. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100(2):242–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Roman S, Kahrilas PJ. Management of spastic disorders of the esophagus. Gastroenterol Clin N Am. 2013;42(1):27–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Spechler SJ, Castell DO. Classification of oesophageal motility abnormalities. Gut. 2001;49(1):145–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Pandolfino JE, Ghosh SK, Rice J, et al. Classifying esophageal motility by pressure topography characteristics: a study of 400 patients and 75 controls. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103(1):27–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kahrilas PJ, Bredenoord AJ, Fox M, et al. The Chicago classification of esophageal motility disorders, v3.0. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;27(2):160–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Prabhakar A, Levine MS, Rubesin S, et al. Relationship between diffuse esophageal spasm and lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction on barium studies and manometry in 14 patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004;183(2):409–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Halland M, Ravi K, Barlow J, et al. Correlation between the radiological observation of isolated tertiary waves on an esophagram and findings on high-resolution esophageal manometry. Dis Esophagus. 2016;29(1):22–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Katz PO, Gerson LB, Vela MF. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2013;108(3):308–28. quiz 29

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Pandolfino JE, Roman S, Carlson D, et al. Distal esophageal spasm in high-resolution esophageal pressure topography: defining clinical phenotypes. Gastroenterology. 2011;141(2):469–75.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Behar J, Biancani P. Pathogenesis of simultaneous esophageal contractions in patients with motility disorders. Gastroenterology. 1993;105(1):111–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Roman S, Pandolfino JE, Chen J, et al. Phenotypes and clinical context of Hypercontractility in high-resolution esophageal pressure topography (EPT). Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;

    Google Scholar 

  14. Barham CP, Gotley DC, Fowler A, et al. Diffuse oesophageal spasm: diagnosis by ambulatory 24 hour manometry. Gut. 1997;41(2):151–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Lacima G, Grande L, Pera M, et al. Utility of ambulatory 24-hour esophageal pH and motility monitoring in noncardiac chest pain: report of 90 patients and review of the literature. Dig Dis Sci. 2003;​48(5):952–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Barret M, Herregods TV, Oors JM, et al. Diagnostic yield of 24-hour esophageal manometry in non-cardiac chest pain. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016;28(8):1186–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ford AC, Suares NC, Talley NJ. Meta-analysis: the epidemiology of noncardiac chest pain in the community. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011;34(2):172–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Boland K, Abdul-Hussein M, Tutuian R, et al. Characteristics of consecutive esophageal motility diagnoses after a decade of change. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2016;50(4):301–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pandolfino JE, Gawron AJ. Achalasia: a systematic review. JAMA. 2015;313(18):1841–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pandolfino JE, Kwiatek MA, Nealis T, et al. Achalasia: a new clinically relevant classification by high-resolution manometry. Gastroenterology. 2008;135(5):1526–33.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Kim HS, Park H, Lim JH, et al. Morphometric evaluation of oesophageal wall in patients with nutcracker oesophagus and ineffective oesophageal motility. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2008;20(8):869–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Champion JK, Delise N, Hunt T. Myenteric plexus in spastic motility disorders. J Gastrointest Surg. 2001;5(5):514–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dogan I, Puckett JL, Padda BS, et al. Prevalence of increased esophageal muscle thickness in patients with esophageal symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102(1):137–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Krishnan K, Lin CY, Keswani R, et al. Endoscopic ultrasound as an adjunctive evaluation in patients with esophageal motor disorders subtyped by high-resolution manometry. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;26(8):1172–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Korsapati H, Bhargava V, Mittal RK. Reversal of asynchrony between circular and longitudinal muscle contraction in nutcracker esophagus by atropine. Gastroenterology. 2008;135(3):796–802.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Little AG, Correnti FS, Calleja IJ, et al. Effect of incomplete obstruction on feline esophageal function with a clinical correlation. Surgery. 1986;100(2):430–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Mittal RK, Ren J, McCallum RW, et al. Modulation of feline esophageal contractions by bolus volume and outflow obstruction. Am J Phys. 1990;258(2 Pt 1):G208–15.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Shirazi S, Schulze-Delrieu K. Role of altered responsiveness of hypertrophic smooth muscle in manometric abnormalities of the obstructed opossum oesophagus. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 1996;8(2):111–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Burton PR, Brown W, Laurie C, et al. The effect of laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands on esophageal motility and the gastroesophageal junction: analysis using high-resolution video manometry. Obes Surg. 2009;19(7):905–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Almansa C, Heckman MG, DeVault KR, et al. Esophageal spasm: demographic, clinical, radiographic, and manometric features in 108 patients. Dis Esophagus. 2012;25(3):214–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Crespin OM, Tatum RP, Yates RB, et al. Esophageal hypermotility: cause or effect? Dis Esophagus. 2016;29(5):497–502.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Crozier RE, Glick ME, Gibb SP, et al. Acid-provoked esophageal spasm as a cause of noncardiac chest pain. Am J Gastroenterol. 1991;86(11):1576–80.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Xiao Y, Kahrilas PJ, Nicodeme F, et al. Lack of correlation between HRM metrics and symptoms during the manometric protocol. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(4):521–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Jiang Y, Mittal RK. Low esophageal mucosal blood flow in patients with nutcracker esophagus. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2016;310(6):G410–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Mujica VR, Mudipalli RS, Rao SS. Pathophysiology of chest pain in patients with nutcracker esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96(5):1371–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Clouse RE, Lustman PJ, Eckert TC, et al. Low-dose trazodone for symptomatic patients with esophageal contraction abnormalities. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Gastroenterology. 1987;92(4):1027–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Swamy N. Esophageal spasm: clinical and manometric response to nitroglycerine and long acting nitrites. Gastroenterology. 1977;72(1):23–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Konturek JW, Gillessen A, Domschke W. Diffuse esophageal spasm: a malfunction that involves nitric oxide? Scand J Gastroenterol. 1995;30(11):1041–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Tursi A, Brandimarte G, Gasbarrini G. Transdermal slow-release long-acting isosorbide dinitrate for 'nutcracker' oesophagus: an open study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2000;12(9):1061–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Drenth JP, Bos LP, Engels LG. Efficacy of diltiazem in the treatment of diffuse oesophageal spasm. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1990;4(4):411–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Richter JE, Dalton CB, Bradley LA, et al. Oral nifedipine in the treatment of noncardiac chest pain in patients with the nutcracker esophagus. Gastroenterology. 1987;93(1):21–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Cattau EL Jr, Castell DO, Johnson DA, et al. Diltiazem therapy for symptoms associated with nutcracker esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 1991;86(3):272–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Eherer AJ, Schwetz I, Hammer HF, et al. Effect of sildenafil on oesophageal motor function in healthy subjects and patients with oesophageal motor disorders. Gut. 2002;50(6):758–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Lee JI, Park H, Kim JH, et al. The effect of sildenafil on oesophageal motor function in healthy subjects and patients with nutcracker oesophagus. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2003;15(6):617–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Pimentel M, Bonorris GG, Chow EJ, et al. Peppermint oil improves the manometric findings in diffuse esophageal spasm. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2001;33(1):27–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Allen M, Mellow M, Robinson MG, et al. Comparison of calcium channel blocking agents and an anticholinergic agent on oesophageal function. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1987;1(2):153–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Jaup BH, Abrahamsson H, Virtanen R, et al. Effect of pirenzepine compared with atropine and L-hyoscyamine on esophageal peristaltic activity in humans. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1982;17(2):233–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Winters C, Artnak EJ, Benjamin SB, et al. Esophageal bougienage in symptomatic patients with the nutcracker esophagus. A primary esophageal motility disorder. JAMA. 1984;252(3):363–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Irving JD, Owen WJ, Linsell J, et al. Management of diffuse esophageal spasm with balloon dilatation. Gastrointest Radiol. 1992;17(3):189–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Miller LS, Pullela SV, Parkman HP, et al. Treatment of chest pain in patients with noncardiac, nonreflux, nonachalasia spastic esophageal motor disorders using botulinum toxin injection into the gastroesophageal junction. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002;97(7):1640–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Storr M, Allescher HD, Rosch T, et al. Treatment of symptomatic diffuse esophageal spasm by endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin: a prospective study with long term follow-up. Gastrointest Endosc. 2001;54(6):18A.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Vanuytsel T, Bisschops R, Farre R, et al. Botulinum toxin reduces dysphagia in patients with nonachalasia primary esophageal motility disorders. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11(9):1115–21. e2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Marjoux S, Brochard C, Roman S, et al. Botulinum toxin injection for hypercontractile or spastic esophageal motility disorders: may high-resolution manometry help to select cases? Dis Esophagus. 2015;28(8):735–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. van Hoeij FB, Tack JF, Pandolfino JE, et al. Complications of botulinum toxin injections for treatment of esophageal motility disordersdagger. Dis Esophagus. 2016;

    Google Scholar 

  55. Almansa C, Hinder RA, Smith CD, et al. A comprehensive appraisal of the surgical treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm. J Gastrointest Surg. 2008;12(6):1133–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Patti MG, Pellegrini CA, Arcerito M, et al. Comparison of medical and minimally invasive surgical therapy for primary esophageal motility disorders. Arch Surg. 1995;130(6):609–15. discussion 15-6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Leconte M, Douard R, Gaudric M, et al. Functional results after extended myotomy for diffuse oesophageal spasm. Br J Surg. 2007;94(9):1113–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Inoue H, Sato H, Ikeda H, et al. Per-oral endoscopic Myotomy: a series of 500 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;221(2):256–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Sharata AM, Dunst CM, Pescarus R, et al. Peroral endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for esophageal primary motility disorders: analysis of 100 consecutive patients. J Gastrointest Surg. 2014;

    Google Scholar 

  60. Khashab MA, Messallam AA, Onimaru M, et al. International multicenter experience with peroral endoscopic myotomy for the treatment of spastic esophageal disorders refractory to medical therapy (with video). Gastrointest Endosc. 2015;81(5):1170–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Khatami SS, Khandwala F, Shay SS, et al. Does diffuse esophageal spasm progress to achalasia? A prospective cohort study. Dig Dis Sci. 2005;50(9):1605–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Fontes LH, Herbella FA, Rodriguez TN, et al. Progression of diffuse esophageal spasm to achalasia: incidence and predictive factors. Dis Esophagus. 2013;26(5):470–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Narducci F, Bassotti G, Gaburri M, et al. Transition from nutcracker esophagus to diffuse esophageal spasm. Am J Gastroenterol. 1985;80(4):242–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Paterson WG, Beck IT, Da Costa LR. Transition from nutcracker esophagus to achalasia. A case report. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1991;13(5):554–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Anggiansah A, Bright NF, McCullagh M, et al. Transition from nutcracker esophagus to achalasia. Dig Dis Sci. 1990;35(9):1162–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Huang L, Rezaie A, Basseri B, et al. Natural manometric course of jackhammer esophagus and its determinants – a large-scale database analysis. Gastroenterol. 2014;146(5 s1):s679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Disclosures:

Dustin Carlson: Nothing to disclose.

John E. Pandolfino: Given Imaging (Consultant, Grant, Speaking), Sandhill Scientific (Consulting, Speaking), Takeda (Speaking), Astra Zeneca (Speaking).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dustin A. Carlson M.D., M.S.C.I. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Carlson, D.A., Pandolfino, J.E. (2018). Esophageal Chest Pain: Esophageal Spasm. In: Bardan, E., Shaker, R. (eds) Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59352-4_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59352-4_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-59350-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-59352-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics