Single incision laparoscopic approach for esophageal achalasia: A case report

Esophageal achalasia is an uncommon, benign, neurodegenerative disease that induces a transit disorder characterized by incomplete lower esophageal sphincter relaxation.

A 56-year-old woman with dysphagia was admitted to our hospital. An esophagography revealed flask-type achalasia. Endoscopy revealed a dilated esophagus and some resistance at the esophagogastric junction. We used a capped wound protector, common straight forceps, and hook-type electrocautery to perform transumbilical single incision laparoscopic Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication (SILHD). The left liver lobe and cardia were pulled by a thread. A 6-cm Heller myotomy of the esophagus was performed with an additional 2-cm myotomy of the gastric wall. Dor fundoplication was performed to cover the exposed submucosa. Intraoperative endoscopy confirmed the adequacy of the myotomy and Dor fundoplication. There were no postoperative complications. An esophagography and an endoscopic examination did not reveal stenosis or reflux at 1-year follow-up, and the patient has been satisfactorily symptom free.

LHD is the most accepted surgical treatment for achalasia and has low invasiveness and long-term efficacy. SILHD for achalasia is a new approach and may provide improved cosmetics and less invasiveness compared with those by conventional LHD. The 1-year follow-up results in the present case are the longest reported to date. The evaluation of long-term results in a large-scale study is necessary in future.

SILHD can be safe, widely accepted, mid-term minimal invasive and cosmetically superior surgical procedure for achalasia.