INTRODUCTION Two types of partial wrap are commonly performed in achalasia patients after Heller myotomy: the posterior 270° fundoplication (Toupet) and the anterior 180° fundoplication (Dor). The optimal type of fundoplication (posterior vs. anterior) is still debated. AIM To compare the long-term rates of dysphagia, reflux symptoms and patient satisfaction with current postoperative conditi...

UNLABELLED Achalasia is an uncommon oesophageal motor disorder, with a controversial therapeutic management. AIM The aim of our study was to analyse our experience in the management of achalasia, assessing the impact of minimally invasive surgery, its complications and its outcomes in the short and medium term. METHODS A retrospective and descriptive study was designed, including all patien...

TO THE EDITOR: I read with great interest the paper entitled “Achalasia cardia subtyping by high-resolution manometry predicts the therapeutic outcome of pneumatic balloon dilatation” by Pratap et al, which was published in January 2011 issue of Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. Achalasia is the best known primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by absent peristalsis of ...

INTRODUCTION Idiopathic esophageal achalasia was described in 1682 as a motor disorder of smooth muscle. In 1913 transabdominal cardiomyotomy was introduced and in 1958 this technique was popularized via a left thoracotomy, in 1991 laparoscopic cardiomyotomy was introduced since then many surgeons have adopted this technique as the primary treatment of esophageal achalasia. OBJECTIVE Evaluate...

BACKGROUND In normal subjects the distal esophageal response to dry swallows differs from that of wet swallows. Our aim in this investigation was to compare the esophageal contractions of the proximal and distal esophageal body to wet and dry swallows. METHODS We studied the esophageal contractions of eight patients with idiopathic achalasia, 37 patients with Chagas' disease, 28 patients with...

Radionuclide oesophageal transit studies and manometry have been carried out in 15 patients with achalasia of the cardia, before treatment, after a course of nifedipine and after pneumatic bag dilatation. Transit studies were also done in 10 patients after cardiomyotomy and in 10 normal subjects. Images were recorded with the subjects seated in front of a gamma camera while swallowing a 10 ml b...

OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment outcome of achalasia in Chinese patients. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Major regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS Clinical records of patients with the diagnosis of achalasia from July 1997 to June 2007 were reviewed. RESULTS Thirty-two patients were diagnosed with achalasia during the study period. The me...

HEADINGS Esophageal achalasia. Esophagus. Esophageal diseases. Esophageal motility disorders. ABSTRACT – Background The idiopathic esophageal achalasia is a disease of unknown etiology, characterized by esophageal aperistalsis and failure of its lower sphincter with dysphagia. Its etiology factors includes: esophageal gastric junction obstruction, degeneration of Auerbach ́s plexus, virus infect...

BACKGROUND Achalasia is a well-characterized esophageal motor disorder but the rarity of the disease limits performing large studies on its demographic and clinical features. METHODS Prospectively, 213 achalasia patients (110 men and 103 women) were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis established by clinical, radiographic, and endoscopic as well as manometry criteria. All patients underwent ...