Audit of surgical and pneumatic/hydrostatic treatment of achalasia in a defined population.

A retrospective survey was made of all the patients resident in the Nottingham area who presented with achalasia between 1959 and 1983. Initial treatment consisted of pneumatic bag dilatation in 26, hydrostatic bag dilatation in one and surgical cardiomyotomy in 22. Those treated by dilatation were older (mean age 52 years) than those treated by cardiomyotomy (mean age 42 years). Seven patients died without receiving active treatment because of old age and infirmity and in 6 this occurred before the introduction of endoscopic dilatation to the area. Initial treatment by cardiomyotomy was associated with a lower recurrence rate than treatment by bag dilatation but with a longer stay in hospital and a higher incidence of complications including empyema, chest infections and oesophageal stricture.