Insights into the endoscopic management of esophageal achalasia

Abstract

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by the loss of inhibitory neurons in the myenteric plexus, resulting in impaired relaxation of the esophagogastric junction. Achalasia is an incurable disease, and the treatment modalities are aimed at disruption of the esophagogastric junction and vary widely from pharmacological to endoscopic to surgical. Traditional endoscopic therapy includes pneumatic dilation, botulinum toxin injection, and peroral endoscopic myotomy. This review aims to provide an overview of the endoscopic management of achalasia, while focusing on the utilization of peroral endoscopic myotomy and other novel approaches.