Experience in treatment of patients with esophageal achalasia

Abstract

Introduction: Esophageal achalasia is a neuromuscular disease, which is characterized by persistent impaired reflex opening of esophageal sphincter. Disease incidence is 0.6-2.0 per 100 000 population with no tendency to decrease. The aim of the study was to improve the results of treatment in patients with achalasia of cardia by differentiated approach in the choice of therapy method. Materials and methods:148 patients with esophageal achalasia aged 18 - 67 were studied between 2003 and 2018. The following degrees of the disease were determined (by Petrovskyi’s classification): first – in 8, second – in 59, third – in 70, fourth – in 11 patients. Drug therapy was administered in achalasia of first degree, and cardiodilatation courses - in second and third degree of the disease. Indications for surgical treatment were: impossibility to perform cardiodilatation, S-shaped esophageal deformation (stage IV), complications associated with cardiodilatation, achalasia combined with other surgical pathology, recurrence of disease. Review: Cardiodilatation therapy resulted in sustained clinical effect in stages I and II of the disease. In case of unsatisfactory results of cardiodilatation patients underwent elective operations. 18 patients underwent Heller-Dor plastic surgery, 4 – Heller-Petrovskiy operation, 1 – Besley plastic repair, 2 – Nissen fundoplication. In early postoperative period no failure or perforation of the esophagus occurred. The following complications developed: seroma – in 3 patients, postoperative wound infection – in 1 case. In one patient (4%) the recurrence of disease was due to scar deformation of esophagogastric junction after Heller-Petrovskiy operation on the cardia. Conclusions: Cardiodilatation is an effective method of conservative therapy in stages I and II of the disease, while in stages III and IV it is warranted as preoperative preparation measure. We think Heller-Dor operation to be the best method of plastic repair in esophageal achalasia.