Surgical Treatment for Achalasia of the Esophagus: Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder that leads to dysphagia, chest pain, and weight loss. Its diagnosis is clinically suspected and is confirmed with esophageal manometry. Although pneumatic dilation has a role in the treatment of patients with achalasia, laparoscopic Heller myotomy is cons...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gonzalo Torres-Villalobos, Luis Alfonso Martin-del-Campo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/708327
Description
Summary:Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder that leads to dysphagia, chest pain, and weight loss. Its diagnosis is clinically suspected and is confirmed with esophageal manometry. Although pneumatic dilation has a role in the treatment of patients with achalasia, laparoscopic Heller myotomy is considered by many experts as the best treatment modality for most patients with newly diagnosed achalasia. This review will focus on the surgical treatment of achalasia, with special emphasis on laparoscopic Heller myotomy. We will also present a brief discussion of the evaluation of patients with persistent or recurrent symptoms after surgical treatment for achalasia and emerging technologies such as LESS, robot-assisted myotomy, and POEM.
ISSN:1687-6121
1687-630X