Causes of Dysphagia: Mnemonic

Note: These are causes of food getting stuck during the involuntary esophageal phase - NOT the initial voluntary pharyngeal phase of swallowing.

Esophageal problems causing Dysphagia or Difficulty in swallowing are classically divided into Mechanical and Motility disorders, the significance being that Mechanical causes result in dysphagia first to Solids and then to liquids, whereas Motility disorders cause both Solid + Liquid Dysphagia at the same time - which all seems logical considering that an intact peristalsis is required to push food down the esophagus which is normally collapsed at rest. If that basic mechanism is impaired, you can't push either solid or liquid down that food pipe. On the other hand, if peristalsis were intact and something mechanical (structural) blocked the way - then the solid chunks gonna stay back while fluids trickle through, like water slips through your fingers but leaves stones stuck in your hand....


Interesting most causes of Dysphagia begin with a 'S' ..S for swallowing problems ?

Mechanical (Peristalsis Intact)

Stricture : Following Esophagitis due to Infections, Prolonged NG Tube, Drugs like Doxycycline, etc.
Schatzki's Ring
Squamous Cell Carcinona / Adenocarcinoma ..well I had to fit in 'tumor/cancer' somehow..lol

Motility (Peristalsis Affected)

Sphincter : Achalasia Cardia
Spasm: Diffuse Esophageal Spasm
Scleroderma



These are the main causes, good enough to help you guide your data-collection and investigations on the Step 2 CS !