About Dysphagia lusoria

What is Dysphagia lusoria?

Dysphagia lusoria is a medical condition that affects the swallowing process. It is caused by an aberrant right subclavian artery, which is a congenital abnormality in which the right subclavian artery arises from the descending aorta instead of the arch of the aorta. This can cause compression of the esophagus, leading to difficulty in swallowing. Symptoms may include difficulty in swallowing, chest pain, and regurgitation of food. Treatment typically involves surgical correction of the aberrant artery.

What are the symptoms of Dysphagia lusoria?

The main symptom of dysphagia lusoria is difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Other symptoms may include:

- Pain or discomfort when swallowing
- Coughing or choking when eating or drinking
- Feeling of food getting stuck in the throat
- Recurring chest infections
- Unexplained weight loss
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Hoarseness or changes in voice
- Bad breath
- Regurgitation of food or liquids

What are the causes of Dysphagia lusoria?

Dysphagia lusoria is a rare condition caused by an aberrant right subclavian artery. This occurs when the right subclavian artery passes behind the esophagus instead of in front of it. This can cause compression of the esophagus, leading to difficulty swallowing. Other causes of dysphagia lusoria include a vascular ring, aortic arch anomalies, and thoracic outlet syndrome.

What are the treatments for Dysphagia lusoria?

The primary treatment for dysphagia lusoria is surgical repair of the aortic arch anomaly. This involves open-heart surgery to correct the aortic arch anomaly and to remove any obstructing tissue. Other treatments may include medications to reduce inflammation, endoscopic procedures to remove any obstructing tissue, and speech therapy to help improve swallowing.

What are the risk factors for Dysphagia lusoria?

1. Congenital heart defects, such as ventricular septal defect (VSD) or atrial septal defect (ASD).

2. Abnormalities of the aortic arch, such as a double aortic arch or a right-sided aortic arch.

3. Abnormalities of the pulmonary artery, such as a right-sided pulmonary artery.

4. Abnormalities of the esophagus, such as a long or narrow esophagus.

5. Abnormalities of the diaphragm, such as a hiatal hernia.

6. Abnormalities of the stomach, such as a sliding hiatal hernia.

7. Abnormalities of the gallbladder, such as a gallstone.

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Is there a cure/medications for Dysphagia lusoria?

There is no cure for dysphagia lusoria, but medications can be used to help manage the symptoms. These medications may include muscle relaxants, antacids, proton pump inhibitors, and prokinetics. Additionally, physical therapy and speech therapy may be recommended to help improve swallowing.