Laparoscopic heller myotomy for achalasia cardia-initial experience in a teaching institute

Anaesthetic Management of a Case of Down's Syndrome with Achalasia Cardia

Achalasia cardia is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by dilatation of the oesophagus and collection of food and fluids in the oesophagus leading to massive regurgitation and aspiration of gastric contents. Down's syndrome has multisystem effects which can also present as difficult airway. Here, we present a case of a 14-year-old girl, a case of Down's syndrome with Achalasia cardia and mitral valve prolapse posted for Heller's cardiomyotomy. Anaesthetic concerns were difficult airway due to Downs's syndrome, massive aspiration risks of Achalasia cardia and haemodynamic instability due to mitral regurgitation. In spite of proper preparation of the patient there was massive regurgitation of oesophageal contents during intubation which was managed successfully. Haemodynamic changes due to mitral valve prolapse also had to be taken care of during the intraoperative period. Postoperative period was uneventful and the child was discharged after one week.

Clinical Effect of Endoscopic Pneumatic Dilation for Achalasia

Although pneumatic dilation is an accepted method for the treatment of achalasia, this therapy has high recurrence and complication rates, and prolonged follow-up studies on the parameters associated with various outcomes are rare. In this prospective 10-year follow-up study, a satisfactory therapeutic effect was achieved without serious complications. We report the therapeutic experience with pneumatic dilation, having aimed to evaluate the long-term clinical safety and efficacy of pneumatic dilation. In total, 35 consecutive patients with idiopathic achalasia who underwent pneumatic dilation were followed up at regular intervals in person or by a phone interview over a 10-year period. The mean duration of the follow-up was 43.03 ± 26.34 months (range 6-120 months). Remission was assessed by the dysphagia classification and symptom scores. Patients' clinical symptom scores were calculated before and at 6 to 36  months, 37 to 60  months, and >60  months after therapy. The influence of the patients' age, gender, and disease duration on the therapeutic effect was analyzed. The success rate of the operation was 97.2% (35/36), without massive hemorrhaging, perforation or other serious complications. Dysphagia after the therapy was significantly eased (P < 0.01). In total, 35 patients have been followed up for 6 to 36  months after therapy, 21 cases for 37 to 60  months, and 5 cases for >60  months, and the patients' symptom scores separately decreased significantly compared with the pretherapy scores (P < 0.01). For these patients, the 6 to 36  months remission rate was 85.7% (30/35), the 37 to 60  months rate was 61.9% (13/21), and the >60  months rate was 40% (2/5). The dilation effect had no relationship to the patient's age, gender, and disease duration (P > 0.05). The patients in 30 cases (85.7%) were successfully treated with a single dilation, in 4 cases (11.4%) with 2 dilations, and in 1 case (2.9%) with 3 dilations. These results suggest that endoscopic pneumatic dilation is an achalasia therapy with a good response; it is a simple and safe procedure with long-term clinical effectiveness. It is a preferred method in the treatment of achalasia.

Recent progress in treatment of achalasia

Achalasia is a rare primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, absent or decreased esophageal peristaltic waves and synchronous contractions. As the exact pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear, treatment options focus on the alleviation of the functional obstruction caused by lower esophageal sphincter and prevention of gastroesophageal reflux disease at the same time. Treatment modalities include pharmacological therapy, interventional therapy, surgical treatment and spinal rotation massage. This article reviews the latest progress in treatment of achalasia, with particular emphasis on the evolution of main treatments which include endoscopic pneumatic dilation, Heller myotomy and per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).