Acalasia

OBJECTIVE: Most researchers believe that the presence of large epiphrenic diverticulum (ED) with severe symptoms should lead to the consideration of surgical options. The choice of minimally invasive techniques and whether Heller myotomy with antireflux fundoplication should be employed after diverticulectomy became points of debate. The aim of this study was to describe how to perform laparoscopic transhiatal diverticulectomy (LTD) and oesophagomyotomy with the aid of intraoperative gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and how to investigate whether the oesophagomyotomy should be performed routinely after LTD...

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia and regurgitation are considered typical symptoms of achalasia. However, there is mounting evidence that some achalasia patients may also experience respiratory symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and hoarseness. AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine: (1) what percentage of achalasia patients experience respiratory symptoms and (2) the effect of a laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication on the typical and respiratory symptoms of achalasia...

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder with an estimated annual incidence of 1 per 100,000 persons. It is characterized by the absence of esophageal peristalsis and failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax upon swallowing, resulting in progressively severe dysphagia for solids and liquids, regurgitation, aspiration, chest pain and weight loss. Achalasia results from a loss of enteric neurons, most likely due to an autoimmune reaction in patients with a particular immunogenetic background...

INTRODUCTION: Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a less invasive therapy for achalasia with a shorter hospitalization but with similar short- and long-term outcomes as a laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM). Previous literature comparing POEM to LHM has focused primarily on postoperative outcome parameters such as complications, dysphagia scores and gastro-esophageal reflux severity. This study specifically compares postoperative pain following POEM to pain following LHM, the current gold-standard operation...

Extramucosal myotomy involving the external longitudinal and internal circular layers of the musculature of the esophagus represent the surgical therapy in patients with dysphagia and regurgitation or with angina-like chest pain secondary to functional abnormalities of the musculature of the esophagel body and sphincters. Surgery has a palliative function, because cures symptoms and complication such a diverticula, but not the disease. Modern surgical techniques also prevent recurrence of symptoms and complications are minimal with better long-term results than conservative therapy...

A total of 356 patients were treated for achalasia during a thirty eight years period, ranging from 1955 to 1993 the author presents his results and therapeutic recommendations. Since 1970, patients were treated in a standardized manner, using the transabdominal approach in 85,71% patients and the transthoracic approach in 14,29% pts. The operative technique for cardiomiotomy is described in detail for both approaches. To achieve good postoperative result it is necessary, to perform complete miotomy in a length of 6-8 cm...

Surgical myotomy is the gold standard in therapy for achalasia, but treatment failures occur and require revisional surgery. A MEDLINE search of peer-reviewed articles published in English from 1970 to December 2008 was performed using the following terms: esophageal achalasia, Heller myotomy, and revisional surgery. Thirty-three articles satisfied our inclusion criteria. A total of 12,727 patients, with mean age of 43.3 years (males 46% and females 50%), underwent Heller myotomy (open 94.8% and laparoscopic 5...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the causes of failure of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and to verify whether endoscopic pneumatic dilation is a feasible treatment. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy has proved an effective treatment for esophageal achalasia, with good or excellent results in 90% of patients. The treatment of failures remains controversial, however. METHODS: From 1992 to 1999, 113 patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy for esophageal achalasia...

The development of laparoscopic surgery has allowed the indications of this technique to be extended to the management of achalasia. Four patients were operated for achalasia confirmed by esophageal manometry. The procedure consisted of laparoscopic Heller's myotomy. The purpose of this paper is to detail the technical principles of this procedure and to evaluate its feasibility. There were no intra-operative incident and no conversion to open procedure. The postoperative course was uneventful in every case...

The authors report 25 cases of idiopathic mega-oesophagus treated by Heller's myotomy via an abdominal incision with prevention of gastro-oesophageal reflux by means of Toupet, Dor or Nissen procedures. The results, with a follow-up of 2 to 13 years, were considered to be good in 82% of cases with 2 moderate results (9%) and two failures (9%). The authors consider Heller's operation to be the operation of choice in preference to forced dilatations.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective study of the late results of the Heller's cardiomyotomy and fundoplication for the treatment of the megaesophagus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Were studied 83 patients with a follow-up from one to 186 months (average 40.0 +/- 47.4 months). The fundoplications used were in three plans in 15.7% and posterior in 83.1%. The main pre-operatory complain was dysphagia followed by regurgitation and loss of weight. Chagas, Disease as the etiology was confirmed in 72...

Heller myotomy is recognized as the optimal treatment for achalasia. However, treatment of the markedly dilated esophagus has been debated in the literature. Although esophagectomy has been the standard treatment historically, several studies have examined successful treatment of achalasia with laparoscopic Heller myotomy in the setting of a markedly dilated esophagus (>6 cm). Patients with extreme megaesophagus (>10 cm) are often treated with esophagectomy. We report the successful treatment of 4 patients with extreme megaesophagus with laparoscopic Heller myotomy...

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic myotomy is a widely used procedure and is now considered to be the treatment of choice for achalasia. Esophagectomy for achalasia is usually performed only for megaesophagus. We present our experiences with laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy for 'sigmoid' megaesophagus due to failed Heller's myotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We managed a total of 11 patients with megaesophagus in our institute from 1993 to 2007. Work-up included investigations included endoscopy, barium swallow, and manometry...

Pneumatic dilation of achalasia has a same medium-term efficacy than surgery and is commonly proposed as the first-line treatment. Intra-sphincteric injection of botulinum toxin is reserved for elderly patients with serious comorbidities. Per-endoscopic myotomy is possible but needs to be evaluated by further studies. Laparoscopic Heller's myotomy in first intension is reserved for young patients less than 40 years. Results of Heller's myotomy are not modified by prior endoscopic treatment or by mega-esophagus...

BACKGROUND: Achalasia is characterized by an incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The best treatment is surgical and the laparoscopic approach may have good results. AIM: To assess the results of laparoscopic Heller myotomy among patients with achalasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of patients subjected to a laparoscopic Heller myotomy between 1995 and 2004. Clinical features, early and late operative results were assessed...

Heller's procedure is widely used as the most appropriate method for treating achalasia. We performed the procedure laparoscopically in three patients with good results. Two females and one male, age 40, 60 and 68 years, presented with long-term recurrent dysphagia due to achalasia which did not respond to endoscopic dilatation. Heller's procedure was performed laparoscopically in all three with no particular difficulty. In our cases we also attached the anterior border of the greater curvature to the left side of the myotomy and fixed it to the right diaphragmatic pillar to reduce reflux...

The paper report the case of a patient brought to the Authors' attention suffering from megaesophageal cardial achalasia who had already undergone gastroduodenal resection according to BII. It was considered worthwhile to report this case due to the problems which arose concerning the choice of a thoracic rather than abdominal route owing to the impossibility of associating cardiomyotomy with anti-reflux plastica surgery because of the reduced dimensions of the stomach.