Open AccessAchalasia at the Crossroads Between Specialties
Author(s) -
Florin Bobircă,
H Doran,
D. Dumitrescu,
Anca Bobircă,
Lidia Belega-Mursoi,
Maria-Cristina Alexandru,
Cristina Jauca,
I. Ancuta,
Cristina Mocanu,
Bianca Smarandache,
Bogdan Busuioc,
T Pătraşcu
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
chirurgia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 1842-368X
pISSN - 1221-9118
DOI - 10.21614/chirurgia.2683
Subject(s) - achalasia , myotomy , medicine , dilation (metric space) , heller myotomy , surgery , quality of life (healthcare) , life quality , esophagus , physical therapy , nursing , mathematics , combinatorics
Background: Achalasia is a condition that can be treated either by surgery, such as Heller myotomy associated with an antireflux procedure, or by pneumatic dilation, the choice of type of treatment being a widely debated topic nowadays. Methods: We selected patients with the diagnosis of achalasia, calculating the Eckardt score on admission and they were treated by pneumatic dilation, respectively by myotomy associated with fundoplication. Therapeutic success at the end of treatment was analyzed, as well as that in subsequent follow-ups. At the same time, other important aspects of the study were quality of life and complications. Results: Forty-eight patients were included, 20 in the group of those treated by pneumatic dilation, and 28 treated by surgery. The results of the therapeutic success were to the advantage of the surgery, both after the completion of the treatment, and in the follow-ups from one year to 2 years (96.4% vs 90%, respectively 92.9% vs. 85%). The quality of life was better in patients with pneumatic dilation throughout the period. Conclusions: Surgical treatment of achalasia has a higher success rate than pneumatic dilation, but the latter is associated with a better quality of life.