Achalasia: A nursing perspective

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder that affects a patient's ability to move food down the esophagus and through the lower esophageal sphincter. If left untreated, achalasia can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. Nurses play a crucial role in the management of patients with achalasia; this article highlights nursing responsibilities for this patient population. The article provides a brief description of achalasia, diagnostic methods, complications, and details of nursing management before, during, and after testing and treatment. It also includes original nursing assessment and patient education tools that can be used to guide nurses throughout the patient experience in the clinical setting.