We have evaluated esophageal tone in two different conditions that, in some cases, similarly impair phasic esophageal motility. Studies were performed in 14 healthy volunteers, 10 patients with total esophageal aperistalsis secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and 25 untreated achalasia patients. We quantified esophageal compliance and relaxation induced by a nitric oxide donor ...

BACKGROUND & AIMS In certain cases of achalasia, particularly those in early stages with minimal endoscopic or radiographic abnormalities, the diagnosis may rely on manometry, which is the most sensitive test for the disease. The aim of this study was to critically evaluate the manometric criteria in a population of patients with idiopathic achalasia. METHODS Clinical histories and manometric...

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 acha...

CONTEXT Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder secondary to the degeneration of ganglion cells of the inhibitory intramural myenteric plexus. It affects both sexes similarly and has two peaks of incidence, one in the 3rd to 4th decades of life and the other after 60 years of age. The effect of age on esophageal motility of patients with achalasia is not well known. Studies have shown ...

Achalasia, a benign motility disorder of the esophagus, results in incomplete relaxation lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and absent peristalsis. Patients experience dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, weight loss, heartburn. Pharmacological therapy has been unsatisfactory definitive treatment focused on mechanical disruption tight LES. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is safe minimally inva...

The clinical significance of minor esophageal motility disorders is unclear, though they typically carry a benign course. Distal esophageal spasm progressing to achalasia has been reported, although it appears to be rare. We report a case of a patient with dysphagia and chest pain who was found to have ineffective esophageal motility on high-resolution manometry, which developed into distal eso...

AIM The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Heller myotomy for the treatment of achalasia in a referral center in Tehran, and investigate the clinical characteristics, manometric results and treatment responses among three achalasia subtypes in Iranian patients. BACKGROUND Esophageal achalasia is an unusual swallowing disorder, characterized by high pressure in the lower es...

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...

We present a case in which we used a thoracoscopic approach for resection of multiple esophageal carcinomas diagnosed 33 years after surgery for esophageal achalasia. A 68-year-old Japanese man had been diagnosed with esophageal achalasia and underwent surgical treatment 33 years earlier. He was examined at our hospital for annual routine checkup in which upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed...

OBJECTIVE To report a case of a 9-year-old female presented with esophageal achalasia and approached with surgery. The authors discuss the treatment and make a literature review on the topic. DESCRIPTION Childhood esophageal achalasia is an unusual disease, often with unknown etiology. The main symptoms are esophageal vomits, dysphagia and weight loss. The diagnosis can be made by esophagogra...