[Pneumocardiodilatation in patients with esophageal achalasia]

Patients with esophageal achalasia, treated by pneumocardiodilatation with "Esophageal balloon dilatation" of the firm "Cook"--Denmark with a size of 22 mm in an inflamed state, were followed up for a period of 8 years. The result of the first course of pneumocardiodilatation treatment was unsatisfactory in 13.9% of the patients and they were recommended a surgical treatment. In the remaining patients the duration of the treatment effect lasted from 10 months up to 8 years. In 16.1% of the patients repeated redilatations were needed at intervals of 10 to 22 months. For this group of patients a decision should be made how to proceed further--with repeated pneumocardiodilatations or with surgical treatment.