Oesophageal achalasia: an argument for primary surgical management

Achalasia is a primary oesophageal motility disorder resulting from damage to the ganglion cells of the myenteric plexus. Impaired relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter and aperistalsis causes its cardinal symptoms of dysphagia, chest pain and reflux-type symptoms. Management is somewhat controversial, with options including systemic and local pharmacotherapy, dilatation and oesophagomyotomy. We review the presentation, investigation and management of oesophageal achalasia and make an argument for primary surgical management.

We performed a Medline search of the term 'achalasia', limiting the search to clinical trials and meta-analyses. We then selected articles based on their abstracts using four main criteria: previously unreported findings, previously unreported techniques, size of patient cohort and journal impact factor. References in selected articles were manually searched for other relevant articles.

Achalasia has been managed using a variety of techniques including systemic and local pharmacotherapy, forced dilatation and oesophagomyotomy. Success rates vary widely between techniques. Mechanical disruption ofthe lower oesophageal sphincter is most successful.

In achalasia, mechanical disruption of the lower oesophageal sphincter using forced dilatation or surgical myotomy offers the only realistic prospect of long-term symptom relief. Recent evidence suggests that previous medical treatment or dilatation makes oesophagomyotomy more difficult and increases the risk of complications. As the morbidity associated with surgery continues to decrease with improvements in minimal access techniques, the argument for primary management of achalasia with oesophagomyotomy becomes more compelling.