PURPOSE: The therapeutic effects of a laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication (LHD) on the chest pain associated with achalasia were investigated. METHODS: Sixty-six patients who were diagnosed to have achalasia underwent LHD. The degree of dilatation was assessed based on the maximum horizontal diameter of the esophagus (Grades I-III). The type of dilatation was assessed based on the shape of the distal esophagus, namely, spindle type (Sp), flask type (Fk), and sigmoid type (Sig). The degree of improvement was classified into three grades as follows: A (complete disappearance), B (partial response), and C (unchanged). RESULTS: Chest pain improved (A or B) in 22 patients (92%). The statistical results revealed that the improvement of postoperative A or B was significantly better in patients with Sp than in those with Fk or Sig (P = 0.0213). In addition, the results revealed that the improvement of postoperative A or B was significantly better in patients with grade I and grade II than in those with grade III (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: LHD is an effective therapeutic technique for the treatment of chest pain associated with achalasia. These results suggest that both the morphological type and esophageal dilatation are useful predictors for the improvement of chest pain after surgical therapy.
PURPOSE: The therapeutic effects of a laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication (LHD) on the chest pain associated with achalasia were investigated. METHODS: Sixty-six patients who were diagnosed to have achalasia underwent LHD. The degree of dilatation was assessed based on the maximum horizontal diameter of the esophagus (Grades I-III). The type of dilatation was assessed based on the shape of the distal esophagus, namely, spindle type (Sp), flask type (Fk), and sigmoid type (Sig). The degree of improvement was classified into three grades as follows: A (complete disappearance), B (partial response), and C (unchanged). RESULTS:Chest pain improved (A or B) in 22 patients (92%). The statistical results revealed that the improvement of postoperative A or B was significantly better in patients with Sp than in those with Fk or Sig (P = 0.0213). In addition, the results revealed that the improvement of postoperative A or B was significantly better in patients with grade I and grade II than in those with grade III (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: LHD is an effective therapeutic technique for the treatment of chest pain associated with achalasia. These results suggest that both the morphological type and esophageal dilatation are useful predictors for the improvement of chest pain after surgical therapy.
Authors: M G Patti; C A Pellegrini; S Horgan; M Arcerito; P Omelanczuk; A Tamburini; U Diener; T R Eubanks; L W Way Journal: Ann Surg Date: 1999-10 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: C H Kim; A J Cameron; J J Hsu; N J Talley; V F Trastek; P C Pairolero; M K O'Connor; L J Colwell; A R Zinsmeister Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Date: 1993-11 Impact factor: 7.616
Authors: Silvana Perretta; Piero M Fisichella; Carlos Galvani; Maria V Gorodner; Lawrence W Way; Marco G Patti Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2003 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: V M Fishman; H P Parkman; T D Schiano; C Hills; M A Dabezies; S Cohen; R S Fisher; L S Miller Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 1996-09 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Louis O Jeansonne; Brent C White; Kelly E Pilger; Matthew D Shane; Stanley Zagorski; S Scott Davis; John G Hunter; Edward Lin; C Daniel Smith Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2007-07-11 Impact factor: 4.584