Results of Heller's operation for achalasia of the oesophagus. The importance of hiatal repair.

A survey of 108 patients with achalasia treated by cardiomyotomy is reported. All the operations were done by the abdominal approach and all the patients were followed up for a minimum of 4 years. Fifty-five patients had some form of hiatal reconstruction, 11 of these having a formal plastic repair as practised for oesophageal reflux problems. At 4 years after operation 71 patients (65-5 per cent) had entirely satisfactory results. Twenty-seven patients had recurrent dysphagia and 20 patients had symptoms of reflux oesophagitis. The group who had had a formal repair of the hiatus had no reflux symptoms after operation and also had better swallowing than the other groups. These results suggest that much of the dysphagia following Heller's operation is due to occult gastro-oesophageal reflux and can be avoided by a reflux-preventing procedure. Adequate hiatal repair after myotomy is strongly recommended.