Patulous upper esophageal sphincter – an unusual endoscopic finding. The upper esophageal sphincter (UES) has various important functions, such as protection of the airway from aspiration and conduct of bolus into esophagus, which are controlled by complex neuronal mechanisms.Click to see full answer. Similarly, what causes Patulous esophagus?Barrett’s esophagus. In Barrett’s esophagus, normal esophageal cells are replaced with abnormal cells. Barrett’s esophagus is thought to be caused by long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes stomach contents to back up into the esophagus.Beside above, how does scleroderma affect the esophagus? Esophageal disease in scleroderma. Ebert EC(1). Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) causes smooth muscle atrophy and fibrosis of the distal two-thirds of the esophagus. Motility studies show reduced-amplitude or absent peristaltic contractions in this region and normal or decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure. Beside above, what is Patulous lower esophageal sphincter? The function of the esophagus (food tube) is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter (or LES) is a muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach. It acts like a valve that normally stays tightly closed to prevent contents in the stomach from backing up into the esophagus.Where is the distal esophagus?The distal thoracic esophagus is located on the left side of midline. As the thoracic esophagus enters the abdomen through the esophageal hiatus in the diaphragm, it becomes the abdominal esophagus.