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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

An Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy Designed to Minimize Anastomotic Complications and Optimize Conduit Function
Published on: April 17, 2020
Tracheal obstruction secondary to esophageal achalasia
1Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL 60649.
Abstract:
A 12-year-old girl presented with cough, emesis, and weight loss of 18-month duration. She was diagnosed as having achalasia of the esophagogastric junction. Flow-volume loops done because of the cough revealed a configuration consistent with variable intrathoracic tracheal obstruction. A barium swallow revealed the cause of obstruction to be massive dilatation of the esophagus. Balloon dilatation of the esophageal sphincter resolved all symptoms and normalized the flow-volume loops. This case illustrates that some pulmonary symptoms in achalasia can be due to direct tracheal obstruction in addition to the usual aspiration of esophageal contents.
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