Achalasia: Multimedia

References

1. Sweet MP, Nipomnick I, Gasper WJ, Bagatelos K, Ostroff JW, Fisichella PM, et al. The outcome of laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia is not influenced by the degree of esophageal dilatation. J Gastrointest Surg. Jan 2008;12(1):159-65. [Medline].

2. Abid S, Champion G, Richter JE, McElvein R, Slaughter RL, Koehler RE. Treatment of achalasia: the best of both worlds. Am J Gastroenterol. Jul 1994;89(7):979-85. [Medline].

3. Benini L, Sembenini C, Castellani G, Bardelli E, Brentegani MT, Giorgetti P, et al. Pathological esophageal acidification and pneumatic dilitation in achalasic patients. Too much or not enough?. Dig Dis Sci. Feb 1996;41(2):365-71. [Medline].

4. Gelfond M, Rozen P, Gilat T. Isosorbide dinitrate and nifedipine treatment of achalasia: a clinical, manometric and radionuclide evaluation. Gastroenterology. Nov 1982;83(5):963-9. [Medline].

5. Hunter JG, Trus TL, Branum GD, Waring JP. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy and fundoplication for achalasia. Ann Surg. Jun 1997;225(6):655-64; discussion 664-5. [Medline].

6. Katz PO, Gilbert J, Castell DO. Pneumatic dilatation is effective long-term treatment for achalasia. Dig Dis Sci. Sep 1998;43(9):1973-7. [Medline].

7. Moonka R, Patti MG, Feo CV, Arcerito M, De Pinto M, Horgan S, et al. Clinical presentation and evaluation of malignant pseudoachalasia. J Gastrointest Surg. Sep-Oct 1999;3(5):456-61. [Medline].

8. Patti MG, Arcerito M, Tong J, De Pinto M, de Bellis M, Wang A, et al. Importance of preoperative and postoperative pH monitoring in patients with esophageal achalasia. J Gastrointest Surg. Nov-Dec 1997;1(6):505-10. [Medline].

9. Patti MG, Feo CV, Arcerito M, De Pinto M, Tamburini A, Diener U, et al. Effects of previous treatment on results of laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia. Dig Dis Sci. Nov 1999;44(11):2270-6. [Medline].

10. Patti MG, Fisichella PM, Perretta S, Galvani C, Gorodner MV, Robinson T, et al. Impact of minimally invasive surgery on the treatment of esophageal achalasia: a decade of change. J Am Coll Surg. May 2003;196(5):698-703; discussion 703-5. [Medline].

11. Patti MG, Pellegrini CA, Arcerito M, Tong J, Mulvihill SJ, Way LW. Comparison of medical and minimally invasive surgical therapy for primary esophageal motility disorders. Arch Surg. Jun 1995;130(6):609-15; discussion 615-6. [Medline].

12. Richards WO, Torquati A, Holzman MD, Khaitan L, Byrne D, Lutfi R, et al. Heller myotomy versus Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication for achalasia: a prospective randomized double-blind clinical trial. Ann Surg. Sep 2004;240(3):405-12; discussion 412-5. [Medline].

13. Smith CD, Stival A, Howell DL, Swafford V. Endoscopic therapy for achalasia before Heller myotomy results in worse outcomes than heller myotomy alone. Ann Surg. May 2006;243(5):579-84; discussion 584-6. [Medline].

14. Spiess AE, Kahrilas PJ. Treating achalasia: from whalebone to laparoscope. JAMA. Aug 19 1998;280(7):638-42. [Medline].

15. Stewart KC, Finley RJ, Clifton JC, Graham AJ, Storseth C, Inculet R. Thoracoscopic versus laparoscopic modified Heller Myotomy for achalasia: efficacy and safety in 87 patients. J Am Coll Surg. Aug 1999;189(2):164-9; discussion 169-70. [Medline].

16. Torquati A, Lutfi R, Khaitan L, Sharp KW, Richards WO. Heller myotomy vs Heller myotomy plus Dor fundoplication: cost-utility analysis of a randomized trial. Surg Endosc. Mar 2006;20(3):389-93. [Medline].

17. Vaezi MF, Richter JE, Wilcox CM, Schroeder PL, Birgisson S, Slaughter RL, et al. Botulinum toxin versus pneumatic dilatation in the treatment of achalasia: a randomised trial. Gut. Feb 1999;44(2):231-9. [Medline].

18. Woltman TA, Oelschlager BK, Pellegrini CA. Surgical management of esophageal motility disorders. J Surg Res. Mar 2004;117(1):34-43. [Medline].

19. Zaninotto G, Annese V, Costantini M, Del Genio A, Costantino M, Epifani M, et al. Randomized controlled trial of botulinum toxin versus laparoscopic heller myotomy for esophageal achalasia. Ann Surg. Mar 2004;239(3):364-70. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

hypertensive nonrelaxed esophageal sphincter, primary esophageal motility disorder, lower esophageal sphincter, LES, esophageal peristalsis, dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, heartburn, weight loss

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Piero Marco Fisichella, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University; Director, Esophageal Motility Center, Loyola University Medical Center
Piero Marco Fisichella, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Marco G Patti, MD, Professor of Surgery, Director, Center for Esophageal Diseases, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Marco G Patti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Surgeons, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, American Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Pan-Pacific Surgical Association, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Southwestern Surgical Congress, and Western Surgical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

David Eric Bernstein, MD, Chief, Section of Hepatology, North Shore University Hospital, Director, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hepatology, New York University School of Medicine
David Eric Bernstein, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

James L Achord, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Mississippi School of Medicine
James L Achord, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Mississippi State Medical Association, New York Academy of Sciences, Sigma Xi, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP, Assistant Dean for Medical Curriculum, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania
Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law Medicine and Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.