Several theories on the etiology and pathophysiology of achalasia have been reported but, to date, it is widely accepted that loss of peristalsis and absence of swallow-induced relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter are the main functional abnormalities. Treatment of achalasia often aims to alleviate the symptoms of achalasia and not to correct the underlying disorder. Medical therapy has...

Longitudinal esophageal myotomy is effective in tions, each affording only short-term relief of dys­ relieving dysphagia in over 90% of patients with phagia. Becau se the child swims competitively , she achalasia (1-8) , but enthusiasm for this approach and the famil y were concerned about the effect s of has been limited because of the need for thoracot­ a posterolateral thoracotomy on her arm...

During the last 13 years 264 unselected patients with achalasia have been treated solely by the technique of pneumatic dilatation. The principle of the method was to continue the series of consecutive dilatations until the result was satisfactory. This paper reports the late results in 138 patients who were treated more than three years ago (3-13 years; mean 6.6 years). The results were evaluat...