Vol. 59, No. 3, March 2009 191 Madam, We read with interest the report of Ahmed et al in which they described the medical and surgical management of achalasia in 46 patients over a five-year period from their specialist units of a research centre and teaching hospital.1 The authors have made a significant effort to provide an addition to the local literature. However, we were disappointed to re...

Nose, throat, upper respiratory conditions are leading causes of morbidity in women of all age groups. The normal tympanic membrane (A) is a pale, gray, ovoid semitransplant membrane situated obliquely at the end of the bony external auditory canal. In early otitis media, the membrane is retracted and pink with dilatation of the manubrial and circumferential vessels. Later, as the disease progr...

Achalasia cardia (AC) is a neurodegenerative disease which leads to loss of inhibitory myenteric neurons. This implies that, with the currently available treatment options, we offer palliation but not cure to these patients. Pneumatic balloon dilatation (PBD) has been the only time‐tested endoscopic modality for the management of AC until recently. However, the requirement of repeated dilatatio...

BACKGROUND Pneumatic balloon dilation is a popular method of treating patients with achalasia cardia. It may be useful to know the factors that predict response to this treatment. AIM To determine predictors of outcome following pneumatic balloon dilation in patients with achalasia cardia. METHODS Records of 62 patients who had undergone pneumatic dilation using Rigiflex balloon dilators (B...

Laparoscopic fundoplication is a treatment option for gastroesophageal reflux disease refractory to medical treatment. When deciding whether or not to undergo surgery, patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal motility disorder need to fully understand the operative procedure, postoperative complications, and residual symptoms such as dysphagia, globus sensation, a...

Abstract Achalasia is a primary defect of esophageal motility unknown aetiology, characterised by peristaltic dysfunction the esophagus and impaired relaxation lower sphincter. The most common symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, weight loss, chest burning. There various treatment options for achalasia: botulinum toxin injections, pneumatic dilatation, Heller myotomy, peroral endoscopic myoto...