Treatment of Achalasia: Pneumatic Dilation

Abstract

Forceful dilation of the cardia is the treatment of choice for achalasia. This therapy can be carried out using a homemade system or using commercially available dilators. Pneumatic dilation yields 77% good or excellent results in patients with achalasia, while 8.7% have moderate improvement and 14.4% are not improved. The main complication is perforation, occurring in 2.5%. Perforation can be treated medically with success. In the authors' series of now almost 1000 patients, only one died. Pneumatic dilation is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of achalasia.