Achalasia: Diagnosis and Management
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025

Robotic Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication for Achalasia
Published on: August 11, 2023
Christina G Provenza1, John Robert Romanelli1
1University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, USA.
Abstract:
Achalasia is an incurable condition of the esophagus involving the inflammation and degeneration of inhibitory neurons of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resulting in failure of the LES to relax. Typical symptoms of achalasia are dysphagia, retrosternal chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss. Three studies are typically required for the diagnosis of achalasia: barium swallow, high-resolution esophageal manometry, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Differential diagnosis includes gastroesophageal reflux disease, pseudoachalasia, neoplasm, and nonachalasia esophageal motility disorders such as scleroderma, jackhammer esophagus, distal esophageal spasm, and nutcracker esophagus.
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