Achalasia of the cardia in children

Fifteen children with achalasia treated surgically over a period of 21 years are reported. All had a modified Heller's myotomy as a primary treatment. The thoracic approach was used in five and the abdominal route in ten. In three patients the myotomy was confined to the oesophagus. Six patients had antireflux procedures at the time of initial myotomy. The mean follow-up period was 6.2 years. Nine patients had excellent results, three had good results, two had fair results and one had a poor result. Of the nine children who did not have an antireflux procedure, three developed symptomatic and radiologically proven gastro-oesophageal reflux. The results of myotomy in children with achalasia are satisfactory but a significant number may develop gastro-oesophageal reflux. We believe that a modified Heller's myotomy combined with a short loose Nissen fundoplication should be the primary treatment of achalasia in children.