The cost of laparoscopic myotomy versus pneumatic dilatation for esophageal achalasia

Background The two main treatment options for esophageal achalasia are laparoscopic distal esophageal myotomy (LM) and pneumatic dilatation (PD). Our objective was to compare the costs of these management strategies. Methods We constructed a decision analytic model consisting of two treatment strategies for patients diagnosed with achalasia. Probabilities of events were systematically derived from a literature review, supplemented by expert opinion when necessary. Costs were estimated from the perspective of a third-party payer and society, including both direct and indirect costs. Future costs were discounted at a rate of 5.5% over a time horizon of 5 and 10 years. Uncertainty in the probability estimates was incorporated using probabilistic sensitivity analyses. We tested uncertainty in the model by modifying key assumptions and repeating the analysis. Results From the societal perspective, the expected cost per patient was $10,789 (LM) compared with $5,315 (PD) five years following diagnosis, and $11,804 (LM) compared with $7,717 (PD) after 10 years. The 95% confidence interval of the incremental cost per patient treated with LM was ($5,280, $5,668) after five years, and ($3,863, $4,311) after 10 years. The incremental cost of LM was similar from the third-party payer perspective and in the secondary model analyzed. Conclusions Initial LM is a more costly management strategy under all clinically plausible scenarios tested in this model. Further research is needed to determine patients’ preferences for the two treatment modalities, and society’s willingness to bear the incremental cost of LM for those who choose it. Presented at the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons (CATS) annual meeting, September 9, 2006, Calgary, Canada     

Laparoscopic closure of esophageal perforation following pneumatic dilatation for achalasia

Esophageal perforation following pneumatic dilation of the esophagus is normally recognized shortly after the event. Two patients with esophageal perforation were repaired utilizing a transabdominal laparoscopic technique with suture closure of the perforation, contralateral Heller myotomy, and Toupet posterior partial fundoplication. Patients recovered excellently, were started on liquids within 3 days of surgery, and were discharged shortly thereafter. Details of the procedure are presented. This minimally invasive approach is well tolerated and appropriate in selected patients.     

Heller's cardiomyotomy compared with pneumatic dilatation for treatment of oesophageal achalasia.

The records of 30 patients treated for oesophageal achalasia between 1976 and 1988 were analysed retrospectively. Early and late results were collected to compare the safety and efficacy of Heller's myotomy (n = 13) and pneumatic dilatation (n = 17). Unsatisfactory immediate postoperative results were found in 4 of 13 of the patients who had undergone myotomy (31%) and in 4 of the 17 patients treated by pneumatic dilatation (24%). More patients had improved swallowing during the first postoperative year after myotomy, but this difference ceased with time. The severity of the symptoms affected the results, and dilatations that had to be repeated more than twice were ineffective. We conclude that pneumatic dilatation is as safe as Heller's myotomy, and that although the early results are significantly better after myotomy, the late results are similar.     

Long-term results of Troidl's technique of endoscopic pneumatic dilatation for achalasia of the esophagus

Summary In a prospective clinical trial, 26 consecutive patients underwent endoscopic pneumatic dilatation over a 10-year period. Dilatation was achieved by means of a ballon attached to a normal gastrointestinal fiberscope. With the endoscope in an inverse position, the device was placed in the cardia and the dilatation process was monitored macroscopically. Before dilatation, patients suffered from dysphagia (92%), reduced speed of swallowing (100%), symptom aggravation under stress (73%), weight loss (50%), aspiration, pain, regurgitation, and vomiting. After dilatation and long-term follow-up (mean of 5 years), symptoms could be markedly reduced, especially the speed of eating and symptom aggravation under stress. Excellent and good results (Visick scale) were achieved in 76%. Fair results were achieved in 20%. To date, perforation and other complications have not occurred. Mortality was zero. Our series was an uncontrolled trial, so the results are hardly comparable to other studies. Furthermore, the small number of patients in our study represents a weak point with regard to complications. We conclude that the main advantages of the procedure are its simplicity and practicability. The simple procedure may be the method of choice in elderly patients. Of course, no final decision can be made until a well-designed controlled trial has been carried out.     

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy relieves dysphagia in patients with achalasia and low LES pressure following pneumatic dilatation

Background: Although pneumatic dilatation is said to relieve dysphagia in achalasia if it decreases lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure to <10 mmHg, dysphagia persists in some cases. Performing a Heller myotomy in this setting has been challenged on the assumption that everything possible has already been done to eliminate the barrier posed by the malfunctioning sphincter. Therefore, we set out to assess the results of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication in achalasia in relation to LES pressure. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with achalasia were divided into the following three groups, based on the LES pressure and previous treatment: group A, previous balloon dilatation and LES pressure ?10 mmHg (n = 9); group B, previous balloon dilatation and LES pressure >10 mmHg (n = 23); group C, no previous balloon dilatation and LES pressure >10 mmHg (n = 25). All patients underwent a laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication. The severity of dysphagia was gauged on a scale of 0-4. Results: In group A, LES pressure was 7 ± 2 mmHg preoperatively and 8 ± 3 mmHg postoperatively; the dysphagia score was 3.3 ± 0.7 preoperatively and 0.9 ± 1.1 postoperatively. Eighty-nine percent of patients had excellent or good results. In group B, LES pressure was 23 ± 8 mmHg preoperatively and 10 ± 1 mmHg postoperatively; the dysphagia score was 3.3 ± 0.7 preoperatively and 0.3 ± 0.5 postoperatively. All patients had excellent or good results. In group C, LES pressure was 23 ± 11 mmHg preoperatively and 14 ± 12 mmHg postoperatively; the dysphagia score was 3.6 ± 0.6 preoperatively and 0.2 ± 0.5 postoperatively. All patients had excellent or good results. Conclusions: These results show that (a) a LES pressure of <10 mmHg after pneumatic dilatation does not guarantee relief of dysphagia, and (b) laparoscopic Heller myotomy relieves dysphagia in most patients with a postdilatation LES pressure <10 mmHg. Thus, a laparoscopic Heller myotomy is indicated if dilatation does not relieve dysphagia, even if LES pressure has been decreased to <10 mmHg. Esophagectomy should be reserved for the occasional failure of this simpler operation. apd: 11 May 2001     

Oesophagomyotomy for achalasia of the cardia.

Experience of 48 cases of achalasia of the cardia, treated by oesophagomyotomy, and of three cases of failed 'Heller' operation, treated by jejunal interposition, is recorded. Some technical details and the results are discussed.     

Choice of treatment in achalasia of the cardia

Results of examination and treatment of 120 patients with cardiac achalasia (CA) are described. The investigation included 13 patients with the I stage of CA, 35 patients with the II stage, 50 patients with the III stage and 22 patients with the IV stage. Indications were established to cardiodilatation and operative treatment of CA. On the basis of an analysis of long-term results the most effective method of treatment was determined depending on functional impairments of the cardia and the motor function of the thoracic portion of the esophagus. The doses of cardiodilatation were designed giving an objective picture of the dilatation of the cardiac muscles obtained that resulted in better results of the treatment. The potentials of videoendoscopic operative interventions in patients with different stages of CA were studied which allowed to reduce the operative trauma, frequency of intra- and postoperative complications, to shorten the terms of hospitalization.     

Pneumatic dilatation in the treatment of achalasia

The results of a European survey on pneumatic dilatation in the treatment of achalasia have been compiled from a questionnaire completed by 18 different surgical teams. The total number of patients investigated was 2,161. Surgical treatment was prescribed by 94% of teams, whereas pneumatic dilatation was only prescribed by 56%. The indications for pneumatic dilatation were: inoperability (28%), drug failure (17%), surgical failure (11%). Nine surgeons believe pneumatic dilatation is indicated in all cases (50%), four consider it ineffective and useless (22%), and one expressed no opinion (6%). The arguments in favour of pneumatic dilatation are the fact that the procedure is minor and cost efficient and that it is relatively safe and effective with good long-term results in 75% of cases. Pneumatic dilatation should be used as the initial treatment in achalasia; surgery is only indicated in cases of failure.     

Results of Heller's operation for achalasia of the cardia

A survey of 102 patients with achalasia of the cardia treated by cardiomyotomy is reported. The technique of operation was unchanged throughout and the patients were followed up for a maximum of 22 years. Only 6 patients (5.8 per cent) developed renewed symptoms of reflux and 7 patients (6.8 per cent) had peptic strictures. Over 80 per cent of the patients had no dysphagia or regurgitation postoperatively, but 61 per cent still complained of achalasic pain. The development of mucosal hernias after cardiomyotomy and the use of drinking times in the assessment of outflow at the cardia are discussed.     

Health economic evaluation of therapeutic strategies in patients with idiopathic achalasia: results of a randomized trial comparing pneumatic dilatation with laparoscopic cardiomyotomy

BACKGROUND: We have prospectively collected information concerning the costs incurred during the management of patients allocated to either forceful dilatation or to an immediate laparoscopic operation because of newly diagnosed achalasia. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with newly diagnosed achalasia were randomized to either pneumatic dilatation to a diameter of 30-40 mm or to a laparoscopic myotomy to which was added a posterior partial fundoplication. Follow-ups were scheduled at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after inclusion. At each follow-up visit a study nurse interviewed the patients regarding symptoms and their quality of life (QoL) and a health economic questionnaire was completed. In the latter questionnaire, patients were asked to report the presence and character of contacts with the healthcare system since the last visit. RESULTS: In the dilatation group six patients (23%), including the patient who was operated on because of perforation, were classified as failures during the first 12 months of follow-up compared to one (4%) in the myotomy group (p = 0.047). Five of those classified as failures in the dilatation group subsequently had a surgical myotomy and the sixth patient was treated with repeated dilatations. The patient classified as failure in the myotomy group was treated with endoscopic dilatation. The initial treatment cost and the total costs were significantly higher for laparoscopic myotomy compared to a pneumatic dilatation-based strategy (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0019, respectively). When the total costs were subdivided into the different resources used, we found that the single largest cost item for pneumatic dilatation was that for hospital stay and that for laparoscopic myotomy was the actual operative treatment (operating room time). The cost-effectiveness analysis, relating to the actual treatment failures, revealed that the cost to avoid one treatment failure (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) amounted to 9239 euros. CONCLUSION: The current prospective, controlled clinical trial shows that despite a higher level of clinical efficacy of laparoscopic myotomy to prevent treatment failure in newly diagnosed achalasia, the cost effectiveness of pneumatic dilatation is superior, at least when a reasonable time horizon is applied.     

内镜下食管环形肌切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症的护理

对12例贯门失弛缓症患者行内镜下食管环行肌切开术,全部顺利完成治疗,治疗后3d进流质饮食无吞咽梗阻,有效率100％,无严重并发症发生.随访6～9个月,仅1例患者2个月后出现轻度吞咽困难.提出内镜下食管环形肌切开术是治疗贲门失弛缓症的一种安全、有效、恢复快、并发症少的新型治疗方法;内镜治疗前做好评估、食管准备,治疗中密切观察病情、准确传递器械,治疗后加强生命体征监测、做好饮食护理及预防并发症护理,是取得满意疗效的重要保证.