Cardia's Gaping

Cardia gape or cardia chalazia is a common pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, in which there is a large gape (opening) of the entrance to the esophagus (cardia). Separation of the submucosal connective tissue in the cardia area leads to the loss of the mechanism that helps close the esophagus and retain the food bolus in the stomach. In some cases, the disease can lead to the reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus, as well as to narrowing of the esophagus - dilatation.

The cause of chalazia cardia is most often chronic reflux esophagitis, an inflammatory disease of the mucous membrane of the larynx, which develops as a result of the reflux of acidic intestinal contents into the stomach and esophagus. The periodic inflammatory process first leads to a decrease in the protective effect - a steady weakening of the functional properties of the mucous membrane, the formation of ulcerations, metaplasia and the promotion of its rapid growth. In this case, areas of the mucous membrane change, and their structure is disrupted. As a result of increased growth of the mucous membrane, damage to the upper epithelium occurs, deformation and destruction of the muscle layer, which leads to a gaping of the entrance to the larynx. This is how chalazia develops.

CHALASIA CARDIA: CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS Clinically, the disease is characterized by symptoms such as pain in the throat, worse after eating, but continuing at night, belching, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea and indigestion. The appearance of white lumps in the corners of the mouth is a typical picture of chalazia. Molecules of lipids contained in saliva cause a burning sensation. The patient experiences a decrease in tolerance to previously ingested irritants. In particular, food containing spices becomes unbearable. Substances introduced into the body with food can even cause suffocation. There is also irritation of the glands that are located in the parotid zone.

WHAT SIGNS OF CHALAZIA MADE YOU SEE A DOCTOR? If a doctor suspects the development of chalazia, he has diagnostic methods. Most often they are based on esophagoscopy (endoscopic examination of the larynx using a device - an endoscope), in which a biopsy is taken - a small piece of the affected area, from which an accurate diagnosis is then made. Most often, a biopsy serves as decisive evidence of the presence of the disease.