title: A jackhammer in the gullet: high amplitude oesophageal contractions as a cause of atypical chest pain.
abstract: Chest pain is a common cause for referral to emergency departments. A proportion of these patients have non-cardiac chest pains with normal investigations. Such patients should be considered for oesophageal studies as these may reveal an underlying dysmotility disorder. We report the case of a 51-year-old man who presented with chest pain and underwent oesophageal studies. He was diagnosed with acid reflux and high amplitude oesophageal contractions, otherwise known as a jackhammer oesophagus. Treatment was successful with omeprazole and glyceryl trinitrate relieving his symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Department of Oesophageal Laboratory, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, London, UK.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anggiansah
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D009853:Omeprazole