Return of esophageal peristalsis after Heller's myotomy for idiopathic achalasia

A 23-year-old male was diagnosed as having idiopathic achalasia on the basis of clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, and manometric evaluation. He underwent a Heller's myotomy with 180 degrees posterior fundoplication as an antireflux procedure, and he did well subsequently. On reexamination one month later, return of peristaltic activity throughout the body of the esophagus was shown on manometric studies. Two years after the operation, peptic esophagitis was diagnosed by esophagoscopy, and the acid reflux test confirmed the existence of gastroesophageal reflux. To our knowledge, this represents the first reported case of return of esophageal peristalsis in idiopathic achalasia after surgical myotomy.     

Esophageal adenocarcinoma in a patient with surgically treated achalasia

Summary Although squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus occurs with increased incidence in primary achalasia, esophageal adenocarcinoma has been considered rare in this condition. We report a patient with long-standing achalasia in whom adenocarcinoma of the esophagus occurred many years after Heller esophagomyotomy, presumably related to Barrett's esophagus complicating gastroesophageal reflux disease.     

Inversed Y cardioplasty plus a truncal vagotomy‐antrectomy and a Roux‐en‐Y gastrojejunostomy performed in patients with stricture of the esophagogastric junction after a failed cardiomyotomy or endoscopic procedure in patients with achalasia of the esophagus

Laparoscopic anterior cardiomyotomy in addition to anterior Dor's fundoplication is the procedure of choice for achalasia of the esophagus with approximately 95% success rate. Redo cardiomyotomy is complicated and associated with rerecurrence of dysphagia. Twelve patients with failed redo myotomy were clinically evaluated with radiology, endoscopy, and manometry in whom achalasia type III or IV was confirmed. We propose as treatment for these selected cases an inversed Y cardioplasty + truncal vagotomy, a partial distal gastrectomy and Roux‐en‐Y gastrojejunostomy in order to facilitate esophageal emptying and avoid the appearance of postoperative gastroesophageal reflux as a side effect of this procedure. One patient was reoperated on in order to enlarge the cardioplasty. Disappearance of dysphagia was confirmed in all patients. Three patients presented reflux symptoms and were treated with 20 mg of Omeprazole 20 twice/day. No food retention, erosive esophagitis, or Barrett's esophagus were observed. The mean resting pressure decreased from 24.9 ± 8.5 mm Hg to 7.5 ± 2.5 mm Hg (P = 0.0001). Furthermore, esophageal diameter decreased significantly after a 5‐year follow‐up. This procedure could be an option for treating patients in which repeated Heller operations have failed.     

Barrett''s Esophagus in a Patient with Achalasia

Barrett's esophagus has been reported in patients with achalasia who have undergone esophagomyotomy. The condition was thought to be acquired from gastroesophageal reflux secondary to the iatrogenically produced incompetent sphincter. We present the case of a patient with Barrett's esophagus and achalasia without any previous surgical intervention.     

Barrett's esophagus complicating achalasia after esophagomyotomy. A clinical, radiologic, and pathologic study of 70 patients with achalasia and related motor disorders

Of 70 patients with achalasia and related motor disorders, 3 developed Barrett's esophagus 5, 8, and 15 years after esophagomyotomy. One of the three had dysplastic changes in the Barrett's mucosa. Although an increased incidence of gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, and stricture are well-known complications after esophagomyotomy, the development of Barrett's mucosa has been only recently recognized. Diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus in such patients is difficult and requires a high index of awareness by the radiologist and an endoscopic biopsy for definitive diagnosis. The cumulative effects of achalasia and Barrett's esophagus predispose these patients to higher risks of developing esophageal carcinoma.     

Long-term outcome of esophageal myotomy for achalasia

AIM:Modified Heller‘s myotomy is still the first choice for achalasia and the assessment of surgical outcomes is usually made based on the subjective sensation of patients.This study was to objectively assess the long-term outcomes of esophageal myotomy for achalasia using esophageal manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring,esophageal scintigraphy and fiberoptic esophagoscopy.METHODS:From February 1979 to October 2000, 176 patients with achalasia underwent modified Heller‘s myotomy, including esophageal myotomy alone in 146 patients, myotomy in combination with Gallone or Dor antirefiux procedure in 22 and 8 patients, respectively. Clinical score,pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES),esophageal clearance rate and gastroesophageal reflux were determined before and i to 22 years after surgery.RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 14 years, 84.5% of patients had a good or excellent relief of symptoms,and clinical scores as well as resting pressures of the esophageal body and LES were reduced compared with preoperative values (P<0.001).However,there was no significant difference in DeMeester score between pre-and postoperative patients(P=0.51).Esophageal transit was improved in postoperative patients, but still slower than that in normal controls. The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients who underwent esophageal myotomy alone was 63.6% compared to 27.3% in those who underwent myotomy and antirefiux procedure (P=-0.087). Three (1.7%) patients were complicated with esophageal cancer after surgery.CONCLUSION: Esophageal myotomy for achalasia can reduce the resting pressures of the esophageal body and LES and improve esophageal transit and dysphagia. Myotomy in combination with antireflux procedure can prevent gastroesophageal reflux to a certain extent,but further randomized studies should be carried out to demonstrate its efficacy.     

Management of achalasia with transabdominal esophagocardiomyotomy and partial posterior fundoplication

In this article we present our experience in the management of achalasia. From May 1988 through August 2005, 71 patients with achalasia underwent transabdominal esophagocardiomyotomy and partial posterior fundoplication. Barium swallow, manometry, and 24-h pH studies were performed in all patients preoperatively. Manometry and 24-h pH monitoring were only carried out in 58 patients at the third post-operative week and in 43 patients during follow-up, even though 52 patients were included in the follow-up. There were no operative deaths or complications. All the 71 patients were able to eat semifluid or solid food without dysphagia and heartburn at discharge. Esophageal barium studies showed that the maximum esophageal diameter decreased 2.2 cm and the minimum gastroesophageal junction diameter increased 8.4 mm after operation. Manometry examination in 58 patients revealed that the lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure decreased 15.0 mmHg in the wake of the procedure. Twenty-four hour pH monitoring demonstrated that reflux events were within the normal post-operative range. Fifty-five of the 58 patients had normal DeMeester scores. Among the patients with a mean 90-month follow-up, 49 patients had normal intake of food without reflux, the remaining three had mild dysphagia without requiring treatment. All the patients resumed their preoperative work and social activities. The manometry and 24-h pH studies in the 43 patients showed there were no significant changes between the third post-operative week and during follow-up. Transabdominal esophagocardiomyotomy and posterior partial fundoplication are able to relieve the functional outflow obstruction of the lower esophageal sphincter, obviate the rehealing of the myotomy edge and prevent gastroesophageal reflux in patients who have undergone myotomy alone.     

The effect of laparoscopic partial fundoplication on dysphagia, esophageal and lower esophageal sphincter motility

It has been suggested that dysphagia is less common after partial versus complete fundoplication. The mechanisms contributing to postoperative dysphagia remain unclear. The objective of the present prospective study was to investigate esophageal motility and the prevalence of dysphagia in patients who have undergone laparoscopic partial fundoplication. Symptoms, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) characteristics and esophageal body motility were evaluated prospectively in 62 patients before and after laparoscopic partial fundoplication: 33 women and 29 men with a mean age of 44 +/- 1.5 years (range, 21-71). The patients filled in symptom questionnaires and underwent stationary and ambulatory manometry and 24-h pH-metry before and after operation. A small but significant increase in LES pressure from 14.8 +/- 0.9 to 17.8 +/- 0.8 mmHg was seen after laparoscopic partial fundoplication. Further, LES characteristics and esophageal body motility were not different post- versus preoperation. Three months after surgery, dysphagia was present in eight patients. No differences in LES characteristics or body motility were present between patients with and without dysphagia. Six months after the operation dysphagia was present in only three patients (3.2% mild and 1.6% severe dysphagia). Adequate reflux control was obtained in 85% of the patients. Laparoscopic partial fundoplication offers adequate reflux control without affecting esophageal body motility and with a very low incidence of postoperative dysphagia.     

Achalasia of the esophagus

56 patients with achalasia of the esophagus were reviewed in a retrospective study to compare the results of a forceful pneumatic dilation with those of a Heller esophagomyotomy. 22 of 33 patients treated with forceful dilation (67%), showed relief of dysphagia and reduction in the average esophageal diameter by barium swallow during the follow-up period (mean=6.5 years). In 2 patients (6%), forceful dilation was complicated by esophageal perforation, promptly diagnosed, and successfully treated at surgery in both patients. 21 out of 23 patients who underwent esophagomyotomy (91%) showed permanent relief of symptoms and improvement by endoscopic and radiographic criteria. There were no significant postoperative complications during the follow-up period ranging between 1.5 and 10.0 years. The results of this study indicate that esophagomyotomy constitutes a more effective therapeutic modality than forceful dilation (P<0.05). Although esophageal dilation has a place in the treatment of early achalasia, esophagomyotomy appears to be a safer and a more successful form of treatment, of particular value in advanced esophageal disease and in those instances where pneumatic dilation fails to result in immediate clinical improvement.     

Esophageal motility in reflux disease before and after fundoplication: a prospective, randomized, clinical, and manometric study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The purpose of this study was to determine whether esophageal dysmotility affects symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease or clinical outcome after laparoscopic fundoplication and whether esophagus motor function changes postoperatively. METHODS: Two hundred patients with a history of long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease were investigated by clinical assessment, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and 24-hour pH monitoring between May 1999 and May 2000. Patients were stratified according to presence or absence of esophageal dysmotility (each n = 100) and randomized to either 360 degrees (Nissen) or 270 degrees (Toupet) fundoplication. At a 4-month postoperative follow-up, preoperative tests were repeated. RESULTS: Preoperative esophageal dysmotility was associated with more severe reflux symptoms, more frequent resistance to medical treatment (64% vs. 49%; P < 0.05), and greater decrease in lower esophageal sphincter pressure (9.5 +/- 5.3 vs. 12.4 +/- 6.7 mm Hg; P < 0.0005) compared with normal motility. Postoperatively, clinical outcome and reflux recurrence (21% vs. 14%) were similar. Esophageal motility remained unchanged in 85% of patients and changed from pathologic to normal in 20 (10 Nissen/10 Toupet) and vice versa in 9 (8 Nissen/1 Toupet) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal dysmotility (1) reflects more severe disease; (2) does not affect postoperative clinical outcome; (3) is not corrected by fundoplication, independent of the surgical procedure performed; (4) may occur as a result of fundoplication; and (5) requires no tailoring of surgical management.     

Treatment of achalasia

Opinion statement Achalasia is a primary motility disorder of the esophagus that causes dysphagia. Normal esophageal motility and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function can not be restored; thus treatment is directed at decreasing the pressure or disrupting the muscle fibers of the LES to allow passage of ingested material. Effective therapy for achalasia can be broadly characterized as surgery based or endoscopy based. Medications (calcium channel blockers and nitrate derivatives) do not provide adequate relief of dysphagia and have substantial side effects, and thus are rarely used as long-term therapy. Botulinum toxin injection, a recently introduced endoscopic therapy, enjoyed much enthusiasm initially but was shown to have only transient effect and is now recommended only for poor operative candidates. The mainstay of therapy remains endoscopic dilation or laparoscopic esophagomyotomy (LEM) combined with an antireflux procedure. We have found that patients who can tolerate a laparoscopic abdominal surgery are best served with an LEM and Toupet (270°) posterior fundoplication. This provides good or excellent relief of dysphagia in 90% to 95% of patients with very little morbidity.     

Heller’s myotomy: thoracoscopic or laparoscopic?

Cardiomyotomy is now usually performed using a minimally invasive approach. A consecutive series of 18 patients with an intention to treat thoracoscopically were followed by the same number of patients treated laparoscopically. Both groups have been followed prospectively for a minimum of 2 years. The groups were well matched for age, symptom duration, preoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure, and number having undergone balloon dilatation. There was one conversion from a thoracoscopic to a laparoscopic approach so that, for the purpose of analysis, there are 17 in the thoracoscopic group and 19 in the laparoscopic group. There was no difference in the average operating time, rate of conversion to open operation, mucosal breaches, or length of hospitalization. Nor was there any difference in dysphagia symptoms, with 14/17 having a satisfactory result after thoracoscopic myotomy and 18/19 after laparoscopic myotomy. Frequency of reflux symptoms was similar and, although mild reflux was common, only two patients required treatment with a proton pump blocker. In the treatment of achalasia, thoracoscopic and laparoscopic myotomy without fundoplication are equally effective in relieving dysphagia and have a similar safety profile.     

Barrett's Esophagus after Cardiomyotomy for Esophageal Achalasia

Heller's myotomy for esophageal achalasia was performed on 64 patients in the 24 yr up to 1988. After follow-up averaging 13 yr, 46 patients were reexamined with endoscopy, biopsy, and manometry. Barrett's metaplasia of the distal esophagus was found in four patients 6, 13, 20, and 23 yr after the myotomy. These four also underwent ambulatory 24-h pH monitoring. They had the lowest distal esophageal sphincter pressures (1–5 mm Hg), and all four had symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and pathologic pH values (<4 in the distal esophagus for 32–62% of the total recording time). Because of heightened risk for the development of Barrett's metaplasia following cardiomotomy for esophageal achalasia, with increased liability to carcinoma of the esophagus, regular endoscopic surveillance of these patients is advisable.     

Barrett's esophagus and achalasia

Two unusual cases of achalasia with endoscopic and histologic documentation of Barrett's esophagus are presented. One patient had Barrett's esophagus at the time of initial endoscopy for achalasia, before any treatment. The other patient developed specialized columnar epithelia in the esophagus after treatment with pneumatic dilation. Each patient had evidence of low-grade dysplasia. Including these two patients, 30 cases of Barrett's esophagus in patients with achalasia have been reported in the literature. In 73% (22 of 30) of the cases, Barrett's esophagus was detected after esophagomyotomy. In 20% (6 of 30) of the cases of achalasia and Barrett's esophagus, adenocarcinoma developed. The current two cases are unusual because Barrett's esophagus in achalasia generally develops from gastroesophageal reflux after esophagomyotomy. No other patients have been reported to develop Barrett's esophagus after pneumatic dilation alone. Patients with achalasia and Barrett's esophagus may be at a particularly high risk for developing dysplasia and adenocarcinoma.     

Surgical treatment of the non-complicated gastroesophageal reflux: fundoplication without division of the short gastric vessels

BACKGROUND: There is today a significant greater number of laparoscopic antireflux procedures for the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and there are yet controversies about the necessity of division of the short gastric vessels and full mobilization of the gastric fundus to perform an adequate fundoplication. AIM: To verify the results of the surgical treatment of non-complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease performing Rossetti modification of the Nissen fundoplication. Patients and Methods - Fourteen patients were operated consecutively and prospectively (mean age 44.07 years); all had erosive esophagitis without Barrett's endoscopic signals (grade 3, Savary-Miller) and they were submitted to the Rossetti modification of the Nissen fundoplication. Endoscopy, esophageal manometry and pHmetry were performed before the procedure and around 18 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no morbidity, transient dysphagia average was 18.42 days; there was no register of dehiscence or displacement of the fundoplication and only one patient revealed a light esophagitis at postoperative endoscopy; the others presented a normal endoscopic view of the distal esophagus. All noticed a marked improvement of preoperative symptoms. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure changed from 5.82 mm Hg (preoperative mean) to 12 mm Hg (postoperative mean); lower esophageal sphincter relaxing pressure, from 0.38 mm Hg to 5.24 mm Hg and DeMeester score, from 16.75 to 0.8. CONCLUSION: Rossetti procedure (fundoplication without division of the short gastric vessels) is an effective surgical method to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.     

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy with or without partial fundoplication： A matter of debate

AIM: To present our experience of laparoscopic Heller stretching myotomy followed by His angle reconstruction as surgical approach to esophageal achalasia. METHODS: Thirty-two patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy; an anterior partial fundoplication in 17, and angle of His reconstruction in 15 cases represented the antireflux procedure of choice. RESULTS: There were no morbidity and mortality recorded in both anterior funduplication and angle of His reconstruction groups. No differences were detected in terms of recurrent dysphagia, p.o. reflux or medical therapy. CONCLUSION: To reduce the incidence of recurrent achalasia after laparoscopic Heller myotomy, we believe that His' angle reconstruction is a safe and effective alternative to the anterior fundoplication.     

胃食管吻合术联合Nissen胃底折叠术对食管中段癌患者术后胃食管反流的影响

目的探讨胃食管吻合术联合Nissen胃底折叠术对食管中段癌术后患者胃食管反流的影响。 方法选取2015年9月至2017年3月,新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院住院并行食管癌切除术31例食管中段癌患者的临床资料。根据手术方式分为2组,即接受胃食管吻合术联合Nissen胃底折叠术15例（观察组）,接受胃食管吻合术16例（对照组）,术后2周待患者恢复正常的胃肠道功能后采用pH动态监测仪对其进行24 h pH监测,术后1、3、6、12个月依据胃食管反流病调查问卷（GerdQ）对患者的胃食管反流相关症状进行评分,比较2组患者术后胃食管反流发生情况。 结果2组患者均未出现死亡病例,且术后均未发生有吻合口瘘及胸胃排空障碍等并发症;观察组患者术后2周24 h酸反流次数显著少于对照组、最长酸反流时间和pH值<4的总时间短于对照组,DeMeester评分显著低于对照组,组间比较均有统计学意义（P<0.05）;观察组术后3、6、12个月胃食管反流病调查问卷（GerdQ）评分显著低于对照组,组间比较均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论胃食管吻合术联合Nissen胃底折叠术对食管癌切术后的胃食管反流病情起到更为理想的控制效果,为食管中段癌患者术中吻合术式的选择提供一定参考价值。     

Laparoscopic fundoplication in patients with an aperistaltic esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux

A minority of patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux who present to surgeons for antireflux surgery have absent esophageal peristalsis when investigated before surgery with esophageal manometry. Some of these patients also have systemic sclerodema. While conventional wisdom suggests that these patients are at risk of a poor outcome if they proceed to fundoplication, some will have severe reflux symptoms, which are poorly controlled by medical therapy, and surgery will therefore offer the only chance of 'cure'. We performed this study to determine the outcome of laparoscopic fundoplication in the subset of patients with gastroesophageal reflux and an aperistaltic esophagus. From 1991 to 2003, the operative and follow-up details for all 1443 patients who underwent a laparoscopic fundoplication in our Departments have been prospectively collected on a database. These patients were then followed yearly using a standardized symptom assessment questionnaire. A subset of patients whose preoperative esophageal manometry demonstrated complete absence of esophageal body peristalsis and absent lower esophageal sphincter tone (aperistaltic esophagus) were identified from this database, and their outcome following laparoscopic fundoplication was determined. Twenty-six patients with an aperistaltic esophagus who underwent a laparoscopic fundoplication were identified. Six of these had a systemic connective tissue disease (scleroderma), and 20 had an aperistaltic esophagus without a systemic disorder. A Nissen fundoplication was performed in four patients, and an anterior partial fundoplication in 22. Follow-up extended up to 12 years (median, 6). A good overall symptomatic outcome was achieved in 88% at 1 year, 83% at 2 years and 93% at 5-12 years follow-up. Reflux symptoms were well controlled by surgery alone in 79% at 1 year, and 79% at 5-12 years. At 2 years, 87% were eating a normal diet. Two patients underwent further surgery - one at 1 week postoperatively for a tight esophageal hiatus, and one at 1 year for recurrent reflux. Patients with troublesome reflux and an aperistaltic esophagus can be effectively treated by laparoscopic fundoplication. An acceptable outcome will be achieved in the majority of patients.     

Dysphagia following fundoplication: "slipped" fundoplication versus achalasia complicated by fundoplication

Failure to obtain preoperative esophageal manometry in patients being considered for antireflux surgery can result in immediate persistent postoperative dysphagia due to a missed diagnosis of achalasia. We describe the clinical assessment and management of a case of delayed postoperative dysphagia due to a "slipped" fundoplication, which is contrasted with three patients with immediate postoperative dysphagia due to a missed diagnosis of achalasia. Surgical revision was required to correct the "slipped" fundoplication, and pneumatic dilatation was successfully used in two of three cases of achalasia complicated by fundoplication. Careful preoperative esophageal evaluation with manometry is essential to rule out the presence of a primary esophageal motor disorder.     

Functional analysis of long‐term outcome after Heller's myotomy for achalasia

Treatment of achalasia aims at reducing the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and palliate symptoms. Our objective in this study was to investigate functional changes of the esophagus after Heller myotomy and evaluate their influence on postoperative gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal morphologic changes. Between 1980 and 2003, 216 patients with achalasia underwent Heller myotomy, associated with anterior partial fundoplication (Dor fundoplication). Preoperative and long‐term outcome data were collected from these patients at our hospital. The objective was to analyze esophageal functional results after Heller myotomy in the long term. Results were classified as excellent, good, fair, or poor, according to Vantrappen and Hellemans’ modified classification. One‐year, 2‐year, 5‐year, 10‐year, and 20‐year postoperative follow‐up information was available in 100% of all patients, 91.7%, 85.1%, 60%, 52.6%, and 45.9%, respectively. There were no perioperative deaths. One year after the surgery, all patients had a significant reduction in symptoms of dysphagia and regurgitation. Five years, 10 years, 15 years, and 20 years after surgery, there were 77.2% of patients (142 in 184), 68.1%, 57.1%, and 54.5%, respectively, who were satisfied (excellent to good) with surgery. No esophageal peristalsis was demonstrated in patients during follow‐up. Contractile waves in the body of the esophagus were simultaneous. The difference in the distal esophageal amplitude, the LES relaxation rate, and LES pressures in the anterior wall and/ or two sides was significant (P < 0.05) when compared before and after operation. However, there was no significant difference in the LES length and LES pressure in the posterior side. The change of direction of the LES pressure and the relaxation of LES correlate with long‐term outcomes. Postoperative gastroesophageal reflux rates, including nocturnal reflux, increased with time. The percentage of patients whose esophageal diameter became normal or remained mildly increased with time in the first 10 years after surgery changed significantly. Myotomy is an effective way to palliate symptoms in patients with achalasia. Adequate myotomy can lead to reduction of LES pressure in two or three directions, which may facilitate esophageal emptying by gravity. Surgical intervention does not lead to the return of esophageal peristalsis. Functional damage of LES in patients with achalasia is irreversible.