Surgical management of esophageal achalasia.

Between 1970 and 1983, 46 patients were hospitalized in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital for treatment of achalasia. All patients had been symptomatic for at least two years. Efforts were made initially to manage most of these patients (40) with periodic esophageal dilatation. This was successful in only six cases (15%). In four instances (10%), patients had esophageal perforation. Thirty patients have had esophagomyotomy (Heller procedure), and 14 of these had an associated antireflux procedure. Three had proximal gastric vagotomy for associated duodenal ulcer disease. Twenty-seven (90%) have had a good result, three died postoperatively, and two elderly patients had postoperative myocardial infarction. The other patient had sepsis after repair of a perforated esophagus. While periodic esophageal dilatation is necessary in patients who may not tolerate an operative procedure, most patients with achalasia are best treated with Heller esophagomyotomy.