Treatment of achalasia by the endoscopic-pneumatic dilatation method.

There is no definite cure for the loss of oesophageal peristalsis and incomplete relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter associated with achalasia. Pneumatic dilatation is a simple and safe method of achieving symptomatic improvement of the oesophageal passage. By this means five young patients became free of complaints within an average observation period of 6 3/4 years.