Introduction: Achalasia is a motility disorder caused by insufficient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, due to degeneration of myenteric plexus neurons. Aspiration of undigested food and irritation of the respiratory tract can cause respiratory symptoms and structural lung disorders such as pneumonia, fibrosis, atelectasis
Method:112 patients with achalasia underwent pulmonary examination and CT scan before esophageal surgery
Results: The mean age of patients was 52 years. All of patients have some of respiratory symptoms -cough, wheezing, dyspnea, chest pain. Sixty-seven patients had parenchymal lung changes on CT scan: 22 with fibrosis, 18 ground glass opacity, 11 nodular changes, 8 with air trapping -emphysema, 7 consolidation, 1 atelectasis. Seven patient had tracheal compression. Bronchopleural fistula occurred in one patient. The mean of dilated esophagus was 5,5 cm.
The appearance of GGO and fibrosis indicates a chronic character and that the aspiration of the contents lasted for many years. While the acute form is consolidation or abscess. Repeated pneumonia, abscess or atelectasis of the lung require combined antibiotic therapy and hospital treatment, but often further diagnostics in the form of bronchoscopy and fiber aspiration.
Conclusion: Awareness of the connection between achalasia and lung disorders is important in the early diagnosis and treatment, since it can significantly disrupt the quality of life of these patients, and untimely treatment and rehabilitation of respiratory problems can lead to a permanent limitation of lung capacity and, therefore, their daily functioning