between 1993-1996 seventy-three consecutive patients (33 m, 40 f, mean age 35.4) with newly diagnosed achalasia underwent one or more pneumatic dilatations with the rigiflex balloon using a protocol of graded dilatation with a fixed inflation pressure of 10 psi and constant duration of 30 seconds for all patients without using fluoroscopy. using vantrappen's classification for assessment o...

PURPOSE Endoluminal application of mitomycin C shows promise as a nonsurgical approach to treating recalcitrant stricture but requires precise delivery to prevent mitomycin-mediated injury to adjacent normal mucosa. We describe a novel technique that uses a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene catheter balloon to endoluminally deliver mitomycin C to the target tissue while minimizing nontarget d...

Objective Achalasia Cardia is treated by Pneumatic balloon dilatation, Heller's Myotomy and recently, by Peroral Esophagaeal Myotomy. This study reports the efficacy of pneumatic balloon dilatation as a non-surgical motility in achieving relief of dysphagia, clinical improvement and recurrence. Long-term complications were reported. Methods Eight hundred ninety two adult achalasia patients of...

Dysphagia following laparoscopic fundoplication for medically refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common. In patients without an anatomic defect, it has been hypothesized that the ant wrap may be too tight. Therefore, pneumatic dilation help relieve obstruction. While retrospective data support this hypothesis, prospective are lacking. We summarize @GIJournal discussion held on...

The risk of esophageal perforation following endoscopic balloon dilation for achalasia is in the range of 1%-5%, with a mortality rate of 1%-20%. Perforations need to be recognized early, and, if reasonable, an immediate endoscopic repair should be pursued quickly. Herein, we report a case of successful endoscopic closure by clipping of a large iatrogenic perforation in a patient with achalasia...