Treatments for pediatric achalasia: Heller myotomy or pneumatic dilatation?

Impedance planimetry (EndoFLIP) assisted laparoscopic esophagomyotomy in pediatric population

INTRODUCTION

Functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP) is a diagnostic technology that assesses esophageal cross-sectional area via impedance planimetry during controlled volumetric distention. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of EndoFLIP intraoperatively during laparoscopic esophagomyotomy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study reviewing all patients undergoing EndoFLIP assisted laparoscopic esophagomyotomy for achalasia between January and December 2021 (n = 10). Twenty-two patients with achalasia that underwent traditional laparoscopic esophagomyotomy between July 2014 and September 2019 served as a comparison. Primary outcome evaluated was resolution of symptoms at discharge. Secondary outcomes included change in distensibility index (DI), operative time, length of stay, time to regular diet, and reinterventions.

RESULTS

All patients managed with EndoFLIP assistance had resolution of dysphagia and postprandial vomiting following intervention. Mean change in DI was 5.32 mm²/mmHg with a myotomy length of 3.6 cm. Operative time was shorter in the EndoFLIP cohort (97 min versus 185 min, p = <0.001). Study patients did not undergo an antireflux operation. There was no difference in length of stay or time to soft diet between groups. All patients were discharged on postoperative day 1 tolerating a mechanical soft diet. No acid suppressive medications were prescribed during the observation period. One patient required dilation for recurrent symptoms and one required reoperation for mucosal leak.

CONCLUSION

EndoFLIP assisted laparoscopic esophagomyotomy results in similar short-term outcomes to traditional surgical technique. EndoFLIP allows for focused myotomy length and a shorter operative time.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Comparison of Endoscopic Dilatation and Heller's Myotomy for Treating Esophageal Achalasia in Children: A Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of, and complications from, the 2 main treatments for achalasia: endoscopic dilatation and surgical cardiomyotomy (Heller's myotomy).

STUDY DESIGN

We retrospectively collected data on children treated for achalasia over an 11-year period from 8 tertiary pediatric centers. A line of treatment was defined as performing either Heller's myotomy or 1-3 sessions of endoscopy dilatation over 3 months. Treatment success was a priori defined as clinical improvement and no need for new treatment.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven children (median age, 12 years; 57% boys) were included. The median time to diagnosis was 10.5 months, and the median follow-up period was 27 months. Thirty-seven children were treated by Heller's myotomy and 60 by endoscopy dilatation as the first-line treatment. After adjustment for potentially confounding factors, Heller's myotomy was significantly more successful than endoscopy dilatation (hazard ratio, 3.93 [1.74; 8.88]; P = .001), with a median survival without failure of 49 and 7 months, respectively, and with no significant difference in the occurrence of complications (35.2% for Heller's myotomy, 29.7% for endoscopy dilatation, P = .56). Hydrostatic dilatation was as successful as pneumatic dilatation (hazard ratio, 1.35 [0.56; 3.23]; P = .50).

CONCLUSIONS

Heller's myotomy is more successful than endoscopy dilatation, with no significant difference in the occurrence of serious complications. This raises the potential role of peroral endoscopic myotomy as an alternative treatment to Heller's myotomy.

Achalasia in Children-Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, Long-Term Treatment Outcomes, and Quality of Life

Background: In spite of the introduction of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), Heller myotomy (HM) remains the mainstay of treatment and the role of pneumatic dilatation (PD) is being debated. The aim of this study was to present a single-center experience in the diagnostic approach and treatment of esophageal achalasia (EA), including the long-term assessment of the QoL. Methods: Data collection was based on the retrospective analysis of clinical notes and prospective interviews with patients and their parents. Results: The study group consisted of 60 patients with EA (F: 26, M: 34), with a median age of 12.0 (1–17) years at diagnosis. The time from the first symptoms until the diagnosis was 1.0 year (0.5–2.0) and the most common were: regurgitation (91.3%), dysphagia (84.8%), and chest pain (47.8%). The diagnostic approach showed a high sensitivity for barium X-ray follow through, esophageal manometry, and endoscopy. Overall, a long-term good outcome of HM was achieved in 27 out of 37 patients (73%) and it was negatively affected by the time between the first symptoms and the diagnosis. Out of the 16 patients who underwent PD before HM, a good outcome was achieved in 14 patients (87.5%), compared to 13 out of 21 patients (62%) who only underwent HM (p = 0.22). Concomitant fundoplication was routinely performed, and 18% required post-operative endoscopic dilatation. At the end of the 12.1 (0.7–26.6)-year follow up, most patients had a good QoL, which significantly corresponded with the treatment outcomes. Conclusions: Patients suspected of EA should undergo a thorough clinical evaluation including a manometry, a barium X-ray, and an endoscopy. HM is a safe and effective treatment for achalasia and the outcome is not worsened by a preceding endoscopic PD. In most patients, HM alleviates symptoms, although an impaired QoL is common in long-term follow ups.

Thoracoscopic esophagomyotomy for achalasia in the pediatric population: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Achalasia is an extremely rare disease in children (0.1 per 100,000 individuals). Standard treatments for this include pneumatic dilation and esophagomyotomy. Minimally invasive esophagomyotomies have increasingly been used owing to improved postoperative pain and length of stay. We describe our experience with thoracoscopic esophagomyotomy in this population.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients at our institution who underwent thoracoscopic esophagomyotomy for achalasia from 1995 to 2016. We used endoscopic guidance during all procedures. No fundoplication was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients were included in this study. Thirteen patients underwent pneumatic dilations prior to their operation with a median of 3 dilations. Two patients had a mucosal injury during the case. There were no conversions to an open procedure. Median length of stay was 2 days. After the procedure, 97% of patients had initial symptom relief. Eight patients (26%) required postoperative pneumatic dilations for recurrent symptoms; there was a greater chance of this (OR 8.5) if they had a preoperative dilation. No patients required a fundoplication for reflux postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopic esophagomyotomy is a safe and effective procedure for achalasia in the pediatric population. It should be considered as an alternative to the laparoscopic approach for these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Long-term outcomes of Heller's myotomy and balloon dilatation in childhood achalasia

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder: its optimal treatment in children is still a matter of debate. Records of children treated for achalasia, over an 18-year period, were reviewed.Forty-eight children (median age at diagnosis 10 years; range 3-17 years) were identified. Twenty-eight patients were initially treated with Heller's myotomy (HM) and 20 with balloon dilatation (BD). At last follow-up (median 3 years; range 1-5.5 years), 43.8% (21/48) of children were symptom free. The number of asymptomatic children was significantly higher among those treated initially with HM compared to BD (HM 15/28, 53.6% BD 6/20, 30%, p < 0.05). All children who underwent BD required HM due to symptom recurrence. The median (range) total number of procedures was significantly higher in the BD group (BD 3 (1-7); HM 1 (1-5); p < 0.05) with a shorter time to the second intervention (BD 14 months, 95%CI 4-24; HM 58 months, 95%CI 38-79; p < 0.05). Of 108 procedures, esophageal perforation occurred in two children after HM (two out of 48 HM procedures in total, 4%) and one child after BD (1/60, 1.7%).

CONCLUSION

Less than half of children with achalasia are symptom free after initial treatment with either BD or HM. HM, however, when performed as first procedure, provided longer symptom-free period and reduced need for subsequent intervention. What is Known: • Balloon dilatation (BD) and Heller's myotomy (HM) are safe and effective treatment options for achalasia. • Controversy, however, exists regarding the most effective initial therapeutic approach. What is New: • HM with or without fundoplication may represent the initial therapeutic approach of choice. • Initial BD may negatively affect the outcome of a subsequent HM.

Pediatric achalasia. Single-center study of interventional treatment

Introduction

Esophageal achalasia is a rare entity in children. However, young age is a factor of failure of conservative treatment, emphasizing the role of surgery. In our institution laparoscopic Heller’s cardiomyotomy is the chosen procedure for surgical treatment.

Aim

To assess the outcome of surgery for achalasia treatment in children operated on in a single institution.

Material and methods

A retrospective analysis of consecutive patient records from the years 1997 to 2014 was performed. There were 11 patients. Their mean age was 13 years, ranging from 6 to 17. Duration of symptoms was 2 to 36 months, mean 16. All 11 patients were operated on with a laparoscopic approach. Pneumatic dilatation was used both pre- and postoperatively but in no case was sufficient on its own. Collected data included patient demographics, preoperative symptoms and their duration, diagnostic findings and therapeutic means. Surgical procedures, complications and long-term follow-up were analyzed. The follow-up lasted from 1 to 10 years and finished when the patient reached 18 years of age.

Results

Twelve laparoscopic cardiomyotomies were performed with concomitant fundoplications, 10 Toupet and 2 Dor and one redo procedure. There were no deaths. Two perforations were repaired promptly. The success rate was 82%, though with subsequent dilatations. One failure was due to serious progression of the disease.

Conclusions

In our opinion, laparoscopic Heller’s myotomy is the procedure of choice for treating achalasia in children. Endoscopic balloon dilatation may be used as a complementary treatment, especially as a primary redo procedure.

Early myotomy and fundoplication in achalasia in childhood: a single-centre experience for 22 years

Introduction The aim of this study was to review a single institution's experience with surgical interventions in children with achalasia and to determine treatment strategies for this rare disorder. Patients and methods This study is a retrospective analysis of 22 cases of childhood achalasia from 1991 to 2013. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, symptoms, interventions, intraoperative complications, and recurrent dysphagia. Results There were 13 boys and nine girls (7 months to 17 years old). The clinical symptoms were vomiting (68%), dysphagia (36%), wheezing (18%), coughing (13%), and weight-loss (13%). The mean duration of symptoms was 2.4 years (1 month to 6 years). A barium contrast X-ray study was performed in all of the patients. Oesophageal manometry was performed in eight patients. Six patients underwent multiple oesophageal dilatations (ED) as a first intervention. A Heller myotomy (HM) and fundoplication were performed in all the patients except two patients who recovered with dilatation. In the long term, one patient had a stricture due to the operation and had to undergo a reoperation. Of the Heller myotomy patients, one had a recurrent stricture that responded to dilatation. No other complications were present. All the patients are now asymptomatic. Conclusion Early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment is important to prevent growth impairment in childhood achalasia cases. A Heller myotomy followed by a partial anti-reflux procedure is an effective treatment for achalasia in children. Based on our experience, it is superior to oesophageal dilatation therapy.

Long-term results of laparoscopic treatment of esophageal achalasia in children: a multicentric survey

BACKGROUND

This report describes three Italian centers' experience in the treatment of children with esophageal achalasia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between June 2000 and June 2012, 31 children (13 girls and 18 boys, with a median age of 8.4 years) affected by esophageal achalasia were treated in three different institutions with an esophagomyotomy according to Heller's procedure via laparoscopy associated with a Dor antireflux procedure. Between 2000 and 2005 (for 14 patients) we used mono- or bipolar coagulation to perform myotomy; after 2005 (for 17 patients) we used the new hemostatic devices to perform it.

RESULTS

Median length of surgery was 120 minutes. Median hospital stay was 4 days. We recorded eight complications in our series: 3 patients (9.6%) had a mucosal perforation, and 5 children (16.1%) presented dysphagia after surgery. When comparing the data before and after 2005, it seems that the new hemostatic devices statistically shortened the length of surgery (P<.01, Student's t test).

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of our experience, laparoscopic Heller's myotomy associated with an antireflux procedure is a safe and effective method for the treatment of achalasia in the pediatric population. Intraoperative complications were <10%, and they occurred mostly at the beginning of our experience. Residual dysphagia occurred in about 16% of cases. The use of the new hemostatic devices seems to reduce the length of surgery and intraoperative bleeding. Considering the rarity of this pathology, we believe that patients with achalasia have to be treated only at centers with a strong experience in the treatment of this pathology.

The effect of balloon dilation at the vallecular using videofluoroscopic swallowing study on patient who has a Dysphagia

Authors have previously experienced the effect of balloon dilation at the vallecular by utilizing the video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and the urethral catheter to physically stretch and spread in the direction of the posterior inferior towards the patients who have claimed for dysphagia symptoms due to epiglottic dysfunction. A 72-year-old male patient has been diagnosed with rectal cancer and have been treated with an ileocolostomy after the intubation. After the removal of tracheal intubation, the patient complained of dysphagia. Foods and drinks could not be transmigrated into the esophagus due to the inability of the epiglottis to bend backward in the direction of posterior inferior on VFSS. The epiglottis was physically stretched and spread in the direction of posterior inferior by utilizing the balloon attached to a urethral catheter. After stretching and spreading the epiglottis in the direction of posterior inferior, the bolus remaining in the epiglottic vallecula was decreased. For a patient who is experiencing dysphagia due to an epiglottis disorder, it seems that an epiglottis balloon dilation supported by VFSS and a urethral catheter may be appropriate for the treatment of dysphagia symptoms.