SCHATZKI RING

TYPES

• Type A Ring

The type A ring is rare. It is also called the muscular ring, a thickened band of muscle that can develop in the upper border of the esophagus vestibule and is located 2cm above the gastroesophageal junction. Since this type is rare, it is less associated with dysphagia.

• Type B Ring

The type B ring is a mucosal ring defined as a diaphragm-like thin ring located in the squamocolumnar junction. This type is more common than type a. It depends on luminal diameter if it’s either asymptomatic or symptomatic.

SYMPTOMS

When food cannot pass through or regurgitate, symptoms include:

• Chest pains
• Difficulty swallowing
• Decreased saliva
• Secretion production

DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose a Schatzki ring, patients have to go through a barium x-ray examination of the esophagus. Still, sometimes if the patient experienced the symptoms, the endoscopy is a better choice for examinations. Endoscopy is inserting a viewing tube through the mouth into the esophagus. It evaluates the esophagus’ mucosa and confirms if it is a Schatzki ring and not a gastroesophageal reflux disease. This can also show if you have early stages of cancer, esophagitis, and Barrett’s esophagus.

TREATMENT

There is still no definite cure for the schatzki ring, but some procedures and medicine may help:

• Esophageal dilatation is the method of fracturing the ring using a French mercury bougie.
• After diluting, the doctors will treat any acid reflux that the patient may get.
• Dysphagia may reoccur, so subsequent dilatations still need to take place.
• If dysphagia persists, you can consider taking an esophageal manometry study to determine a treatable disorder.
• If the manometry doesn’t reveal any motility disorder, you might have to retake another upper endoscopy.
• The doctor can conduct an endoscopic electrocautery incision after studying a patient’s tolerance rate and safety rate of the procedure.
• Patients can take the following medicine to help reduce gastric acid secretion:
• Esomeprazole Magnesium (Nexium)
• Rabeprazole Sodium (Aciphex)
• Omeprazole (Prilosec)
• Pantoprazole (Protonix)
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• Since having a schatzki ring is associated with gastric acid reflux, patients should avoid alcoholic drinks, caffeine, citrus juices, food with onions, food with black pepper, spicy food, dishes with raw onions, food with garlic, and dishes with tomato.