[PLATE III—ESOPHAGOSCOPIC VIEWS FROM OIL-COLOR DRAWINGS FROM LIFE, BY THE AUTHOR: 1, Direct view of the larynx and laryngopharynx in the dorsally recumbent patient, the epiglottis and hyoid bone being lifted with the direct laryngoscope or the esophageal speculum. The spasmodically adducted vocal cords are partially hidden by the over-hang of the spasmodically prominent ventricular hands. Posterior to this the aryepiglottic folds ending posteriorly in the arytenoid eminences are seen in apposition. The esophagoscope should be passed to the right of the median line into the right pyriform sinus, represented here by the right arm of the dark crescent. 2, The right pyriform sinus in the dorsally recumbent patient, the eminence at the upper left border, corresponds to the edge of the cricoid cartilage. 3, The cricopharyngeal constriction of the esophagus in the dorsally recumbent patient, the cricoid cartilage being lifted forward with the esophageal speculum. The lower (posterior) half of the lumen is closed by the fold corresponding to the orbicular fibers of the cricopharyngeus which advances spasmodically from the posterior wall. (Compare Fig. 10.) This view is not obtained with an esophagoscope. 4, Passing through the right pyriform sinus with the esophagoscope; dorsally recumbent patient. The walls seem in tight apposition, and, at the edges of the slit-like lumen, bulge toward the observer. The direction of the axis of the slit varies, and in some instances it is like a rosette, depending on the degree of spasm. 5, Cervical esophagus. The lumen is not so patulent during inspiration as lower down; and it closes completely during expiration. 6, Thoracic esophagus; dorsally recumbent patient. The ridge crossing above the lumen corresponds to the left bronchus. It is seldom so prominent as in this patient, but can always be found if searched for. 7, The normal esophagus at the hiatus. This is often mistaken for the cardia by esophagoscopists. It is more truly a sphincter than the cardia itself. In the author's opinion there is no truly sphincteric action at the cardia. It is the failure of this hiatal sphincter to open as in the normal deglutitory cycle that produces the syndrome called "cardiospasm." 8, View in the stomach with the open-tube gastroscope. The form of the folds varies continually. 9, Sarcoma of the posterior wall of the upper third of the esophagus in a woman of thirty-one years. Seen through the esophageal speculum, patient sitting. The lumen of the mouth of the esophagus, much encroached upon by the sarcomatous infiltration, is seen at the lower part of the circle. 10, Coin (half-dollar) wedged in the upper third of the esophagus of a boy aged fourteen years. Seen through the esophageal speculum, recumbent patient. Forceps are retracting the posterior lip of the esophageal "mouth" preparatory to removal. 11, Fungating squamous-celled epithelioma in a man of seventy-four years. Fungations are not always present, and are often pale and edematous. 12, Cicatricial stenosis of the esophagus due to the swallowing of lye in a boy of four years. Below tile upper stricture is seen a second stricture. An ulcer surrounded by an inflammatory areola and the granulation tissue together illustrates the etiology of cicatricial tissue. The fan-shaped scar is really almost linear, but it is viewed in perspective. Patient was cured by esophagoscopic dilatation. 13, Angioma of the esophagus in a man of forty years. The patient had hemorrhoids and varicose veins of the legs. 14, Luetic ulcer of the esophagus 26 cm. from the upper teeth in a woman of thirty-eight years. Two scars from healed ulcerations are seen in perspective on the anterior wall. Branching vessels are seen in the livid areola of the ulcers. 15, Tuberculosis of the esophagus in a man of thirty-four years. 16, Leukoplakia of the esophagus near the hiatus in a man aged fifty-six years.]
The hypopharynx tapers down to the gullet like a funnel, and the larynx is suspended in its lumen from the anterior wall. The larynx is attached only to the anterior wall, but is held closely against the posterior pharyngeal wall by the action of the inferior constrictor of the pharynx, and particularly by its specialized portion—the cricopharyngeus muscle. A bolus of food is split by the epiglottis and the two portions drifted laterally into the pyriform sinuses, the recesses seen on either side of the larynx. But little of the food bolus passes posterior to the larynx during the act of swallowing. It is through the pyriform sinus that the esophagoscope is to be inserted, thereby following the natural food passage. To insert the esophagoscope in the midline, posterior to the arytenoids, requires a degree of force dangerous to exert and almost certain to produce damage to the cricoarytenoid joint or to the pharyngeal wall, or to both.
The esophagoscope is steadied by the left hand like a billiard cue, the terminal phalanges of the left middle and ring fingers hooked over the upper teeth, while the left index finger and thumb encircle the tube and retract the upper lip to prevent its being pinched between the tube and upper teeth. The right hand holds the tube in pen fashion at the collar of the handle, not by the handle. During introduction the handle is to be pointed upward toward the zenith.
Stage I. Entering the Right Pyriform Sinus.—The operator standing (as in Fig. 66), inserts the esophagoscope along the right side of the tongue as far as and down the posterior pharyngeal wall. A lifting motion imparted to the tip of the esophagoscope by the left thumb will bring the rounded right arytenoid eminence into view (A, Fig. 69). This is the landmark of the pyriform sinus, and care must be taken to avoid injury by hooking the tube mouth over it or its fellow. The tip of the tube should now be directed somewhat toward the midline, remembering the funnel shape of the hypopharynx. It will then be found to glide readily through the right pyriform sinus for 2 or 3 cm., when it comes to a full stop, and the lumen disappears. This is the spasmodically closed cricopharyngeal constriction.
[FIG. 66.—Esophagoscopy by the author's "high-low" method. First stage. "High" position. Finding the right pyriform sinus. In this and the second stage the patient's vertex is about 15 cm. above the level of the table.]
Stage 2. Passing the cricopharyngeus is the most difficult part of esophagoscopy, especially if the patient is unanesthetized. Local anesthesia helps little, if at all. The handle of the esophagoscope is still pointing upward and consequently we are sure that the lip of the esophagoscope is directed anteriorly. Force must not be used, but steady firm pressure against the tonically contracted cricopharyngeus is made, while at the same time the distal end of the esophagoscope is lifted by the left thumb. At the first inspiration a lumen will usually appear in the upper portion of the endoscopic field. The tip of the esophagoscope enters this lumen and the slanted end slides over the fold of the cricopharyngeus into the cervical esophagus. There is usually from 1 to 3 cm. of this constricted lumen at the level of the cricopharyngeus and the subjacent orbicular esophageal fibers.
[109] [FIG. 67.—Schematic illustration of the author's "high-low" method of esophagoscopy. In the first and second stages the patient's head fully extended is held high so as to bring it in line with the thoracic esophagus, as shown above. The Rose position is shown by way of accentuation.]
[FIG. 68.—Schematic illustration of the anatomic basis for difficulty in introduction of the esophagoscope. The cricoid cartilage is pulled backward against the cervical spine, by the cricopharyngeus, so strongly that it is difficult to realize that the cricopharyngeus is not inserted into the vertebral periosteum instead of into the median raphe.]
[FIG. 69.—The upper illustration shows movements necessary for passing the cricopharyngeus.
The lower illustration shows schematically the method of finding the pyriform sinus in the author's method of esophagoscopy. The large circle represents the cricoid cartilage. G, Glottic chink, spasmodically closed; VB, ventricular band; A, right arytenoid eminence; P, right pyriform sinus, through which the tube is passed in the recumbent posture. The pyriform sinuses are the normal food passages.]