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Query: UMLS:C0014848 (achalasia)
 2,804 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The use of endoscopic procedures in the evaluation of primary motor disorders, or functional diseases, of the esophagus is filled with both risks and benefits. Since both flexible and open-tube esophagoscopy carry a significant risk factor, it is necessary to have a clear concept of the indications and value of endoscopy in the management of functional diseases of the esophagus. A review of the literature reveals very little documentation on the value of endoscopy in diagnosing esophageal functional diseases other than Zenker's diverticulum and achalasia. Based on the current literature and the experience of the authors, observations and recommendations concerning the role of endoscopy in functional diseases of the esophagus are presented. These are: 1) In Phase I or upper esophageal sphincter dysfunctions, endoscopy contributes little to their understanding, is difficult to perform, and may be hazardous. In this group, esophagoscopy should be reserved for indications beyond the dysfunction itself. If endoscopy has to be performed, open-tube esophagoscopy should be performed by an experienced endoscopist. 2) In functional diseases of the esophageal body or Phase II dysfunction, endoscopy is frequently valuable. In spastic disorders, it helps to differentiate between primary spasm of neuromuscular origin and spasm secondary to esophagitis or an obstructive process. In scleroderma and pulsion diverticulum, endoscopy helps to identify such unsuspected complications as esophagitis, hiatal hernia, and carcinoma. 3) In Phase III or however esophageal sphincter dysfunctions, endoscopic examination is essential both to rule out organic lesions that stimulate functional disorders, and to determine the presence and extent of esophagitis.
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PMID:Functional diseases of the esophagus: role of endoscopy. 68 97

Pneumatic dilatation of the cardia is an effective procedure to treat patients suffering from achalasia. Eighty percent of these patients can be expected to have excellent or good results for 6 years after the first dilatation. A repeat dilatation should be performed as soon as the patient has recurrent symptoms, usually every 2 years. Calcium channel blockers (nifedipine and verapamil) or nitrates (isosorbide dinitrate) decrease LES pressure but do little to the clinical symptomatology of patients with achalasia; however such drug therapy may be tried as an adjunct in patients who remain symptomatic after pneumatic dilatations or myotomy. Pneumatic dilatation and surgical myotomy both reduce LES pressure; with pneumatic dilatation, enough residual LES pressure is retained to prevent gastroesophageal reflux. Indeed, reflux esophagitis seems to occur more often after surgery than after forceful dilatations. We think that pneumatic dilatation should be performed as the primary therapy and surgery reserved for the failures of this procedure.
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PMID:Non-surgical management of achalasia. 163 43

Pneumatic dilatation was performed for oesophageal achalasia in 19 consecutive patients without previous endoscopic or surgical treatment. There were no complications. Relief of symptoms was excellent or good in 11 cases during follow-up averaging 43 months. The outcome was better in patients older than 45 years than in younger patients. More than two repetitions of dilatation did not improve the results. Modified Heller's cardiomyotomy was performed on five patients with poor result after two to six dilatations. Pneumatic dilatation is safe and effective as initial treatment of oesophageal achalasia particularly in older patients, with cardiomyotomy reserved for those who do not respond to two dilatations.
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PMID:Pneumatic dilatation in oesophageal achalasia. Factors influencing results. 175 95

In the present paper we have reviewed the results of forceful dilatation as compared with surgical esophagomyotomy in patients with achalasia. The review of 4 retrospective and uncontrolled studies revealed that in all, surgery produced a more effective late result than dilatation, with minimal side effects and very low or no mortality. In the only prospective randomized study comparing both treatments by the same group, good late results were seen after surgery in 95% of the cases, as compared with 65% after dilatation (p less than 0.001). The resting gastroesophageal sphincter pressure was predictive of the quality of the late results. Reflux occurred in 8% of the dilated and in 19% of the operated group as measured by standard acid reflux test. The old, classical concept that dilatation is the first choice and preferable method of treatment for patients with achalasia should be reviewed, and the idea that surgery should be reserved only for patients in whom dilatation has failed should be abandoned. We propose that surgical treatment should be the initial choice in the majority of patients with achalasia of the esophagus.
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PMID:Comparison of forceful dilatation and esophagomyotomy in patients with achalasia of the esophagus. 177 78

Primary esophageal motility disorders consist of a complex group of motor disturbances, affecting the characteristics of esophageal contractions, occurrence of peristalsis and lower esophageal sphincter function. The medical treatment is still challenging because of the absence, except for Achalasia, of generally agreed criteria for diagnosis and the still unresolved relationship between esophageal symptoms and some motor abnormalities. In Achalasia, the medical therapy does not constitute a main role and should be reserved to selected conditions. Current medical therapies for Diffuse Esophageal Spasm and Esophageal Chest Pain are often considered less than satisfactory, however, a better physiopathological knowledge of these conditions might produce a more appropriate therapeutic management of the patients with continual and disabling symptoms.
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PMID:[Primary esophageal motility disorders: medical treatment]. 228 Aug 71

The long-term results after Heller's myotomy for oesophageal achalasia were illustrated by questionnaire sent to 38 out of the original 47 patients submitted to operation during the ten-year period 1.7.1973-30.6.1983. Nine patients had died from other causes during the follow-op period. The minimum period of observation for the remaining patients was five years and the mean period of observation was 10.3 years. Thirty-six questionnaires were returned (95%). 75% of the patients were satisfied with the results of operation but only 25% were symptom-free. The commonest symptom was dysphagia (56%) followed by reflux problems (50%). Every third patient had discomfort from the scar. All of the 25% of the patients who were not satisfied with the result of operation had dysphagia. On the basis of these observations, the authors consider that Heller's myotomy should be reserved for patients on whom dilatation treatment has proved unsatisfactory.
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PMID:[Treatment of esophageal achalasia using Heller's method]. 230 50

Sixty-nine patients with perforation of the esophagus were treated at the University of California, San Francisco, from 1977 to 1988. The perforation was iatrogenic in 33 (48%) of the patients, spontaneous in 8 (12%), and a result of external trauma in 23 (33%). Clinical findings included chest pain in 36 (52%) of 69 patients, subcutaneous emphysema in 22 (32%) of 59 patients, and pneumomediastinum in 21 (36%) of 59 patients. Esophagograms demonstrated the perforation in 40 (93%) of 43 patients. Treatment delays of more than 24 hours occurred in about half of spontaneous and iatrogenic perforations, but when the perforation was due to external trauma, treatment was delayed infrequently. Operative therapy in 59 (86%) of the patients included primary closure in 44 patients, drainage alone in 9 patients, and Celestin tube placement in 1 patient. Four patients with benign strictures had esophagectomy, and 4 patients with achalasia had Heller myotomy in addition to closure of the perforation. Eight (12%) of the patients were treated nonoperatively. For thoracic perforations, nonoperative treatment was reserved for patients who were diagnosed late but who had minimal evidence of sepsis. Seven (10%) of the patients died. Factors that influenced outcome included cause of perforation, anatomic location, and patient age. Our study shows that a high index of suspicion, aggressive use of esophagography, and individualized treatment are necessary for the best results when treating esophageal perforation.
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PMID:Esophageal perforation. 280 86

Optimum treatment of patients with esophageal strictures requires of the operating surgeon a wide repertoire of procedures suited to the individual circumstance. The Thal-Nissen procedure should be used in the patient with a longitudinal transmural stricture which cannot be easily dilated. When used in this setting, it widens the distal esophagus with a patch of well vascularized fundus and provides extremely effective protection against gastroesophageal reflux. Sixty-eight patients at the University of Florida underwent combined Thal-Nissen procedures for longitudinal peptic strictures. Operative mortality rate was 4%. The average length of follow-up was 68 months. Fifty-seven of 68 patients had an acceptable result (84%). Four per cent had an early recurrence of their stricture, while an additional 4% had late recurrence of their strictures, after an initially good response period of from two to 11 years. Four of the six patients with poor results had either achalasia, scleroderma, or diffuse esophageal spasm. The combined Thal-Nissen procedure represents the optimum therapy for the patient with an undilatable transmural stricture of the esophagus. When used in this setting, satisfactory results will be achieved in a large majority of patients with an extremely low operative mortality rate. Colonic or jejunal interposition should be reserved for those patients who either fail to respond to a combined Thal-Nissen procedure or who demonstrate sufficiently disordered peristalsis to render the esophagus an unsatisfactory conduit for the passage of food.
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PMID:Long-term follow-up of the combined fundic patch fundoplication for treatment of longitudinal peptic strictures of the esophagus. 724 34

Achalasia was diagnosed in 57 patients from 1982 through 1991. 13 patients were evaluated by manometry both before and after pneumatic dilatation of the sphincter. There were no serious complications. All but one patient experienced good symptomatic effect; one patient was operated after two ineffective dilatations. The tonus and length of the lower oesophageal sphincter decreased significantly, but dilatation did not improve the swallow-induced relaxation of the sphincter, nor peristalsis in the oesophageal body. In three randomly selected patients, transcutaneous nervous stimulation did not have any symptomatic effects, nor did it affect the motility pattern of the oesophagus. Pneumatic dilatation of the lower oesophageal sphincter is a safe and effective first-choice treatment for achalasia, with myotomy being reserved for patients whose symptoms are not relieved successfully after two dilatations.
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PMID:[Achalasia. Diagnosis and therapeutic effect evaluated by esophageal manometry]. 827 77

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder that is characterized by dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain. The diagnosis is suggested by narrowing with the classic "bird's beak" appearance of the distal esophagus. Esophageal manometry showing aperistalsis confirms the diagnosis. Pseudo-achalasia must be excluded with endoscopy. Pneumatic dilatation is the treatment of choice. Surgical myotomy is reserved for patients in whom repeated pneumatic dilatation fails.
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PMID:Coping with achalasia. 846 81


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