Achalasia: Treatment, Current Status and Future Advances

Overview

Journal Korean J Intern Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2019 Mar 15

PMID 30866609

Citations 12

Authors

Lee L Swanstrom

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Achalasia was first described in the 17th century and its treatment continues to be challenging. Palliative treatment involves disruption of the lower esophageal sphincter, which can be accomplished mechanically (balloon dilation or surgical myotomy) or chemically (Botox). True surgical treatment originated some 100 years ago and remained largely unchanged until the advent of thoracoscopic and then laparoscopic myotomy beginning in the 1980s. Because these procedures provided relatively definitive treatment and were well tolerated by patients, minimal invasive surgery assumed a primary role in the treatment algorithms for achalasia. In 2008, an endoscopic (incision-less) myotomy approach, per-oral endoscopic myotomy, was described. This even less invasive approach has rapidly been adopted in the majority of high-volume achalasia centers. Newer interventions, such as stenting and cell transplant, are under active investigation.

Citing Articles

Comparative Effectiveness of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) Versus Traditional Treatment Modalities for Achalasia: A Systematic Review.

Kasapoglu M, Noor Us Saba S, Hashemi A, Panchal M, Khan S Cureus. 2024; 16(10):e71917.

PMID: 39564071 PMC: 11574915. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71917.

Achalasia cardia: A case report in young female.

Subedi D, Parajuli B, Bista N, Rauniyar S, Dhonju K, Bhusal S Clin Case Rep. 2024; 12(8):e9239.

PMID: 39104735 PMC: 11298990. DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.9239.

Timed barium esophagography to predict recurrent achalasia after peroral endoscopic myotomy: a retrospective study in Thailand.

Suwatthanarak T, Phalanusitthepa C, Thongchuam C, Akaraviputh T, Chinswangwatanakul V, Tawantanakorn T Clin Endosc. 2024; 57(5):610-619.

PMID: 38872406 PMC: 11474463. DOI: 10.5946/ce.2023.236.

A rare case of mega-esophagus due to achalasia causing tracheal compression.

Santiana L, Kusuma F Radiol Case Rep. 2023; 19(1):39-43.

PMID: 38046914 PMC: 10692489. DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.09.081.

Botulinum Toxin A Use in the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Reappraisal After Three Decades.

Mohajir W, Khurana S, Singh K, Chong R, Bhutani M Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2023; 19(4):198-212.

PMID: 37705841 PMC: 10496347.

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