Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy for Achalasia: Experience from a Single Referral Tertiary Center

Abstract

BACKGROUND Achalasia is the most well known esophageal motility disorder. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) is the most effective treatment for achalasia. The aim of this study was to review our results on LHM for achalasia. METHODS In this cross-sectional study all patients undergoing LHM between 2015 and 2017 were studied. The myotomy was followed by an anterior or posterior partial fundoplication. All patients were followed up for at least six months. RESULTS We conducted this prospective study on 36 consecutive patients who underwent LHM over 3 years. The mean age of the patients was 36.64 ± 13.47 years. 30 patients (83.3%) underwent Toupet and 6 patients (16.7%) received Dor fundoplication. 11 patients (30.6%) developed reflux after the procedure. According to the Eckardt Symptom Scoring (ESS), the symptoms improved in 74.2% of the patients and remained unchanged in 25.8% of the patients. Analysis of the ESS, indicated a significant change in regurgitation and retrosternal pain, dysphagia, and weight loss after the surgery (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.046, and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION LHM with anterior or posterior partial fundoplication is safe and achieves a good outcome in the treatment of achalasia, especially in patients who have not responded to other methods while no serious complication was reported despite several prior endoscopic interventions.

Keywords

• Heller myotomy
• Achalasia
• Tertiary center
• Laparoscopy
• Botulinum toxin