Two decades of experience with modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia

We reviewed the hospital records of 36 patients who underwent modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia between January, 1961, and December, 1982. There were 18 male and 18 female patients ranging between 17 months and 75 years old. The most frequent symptom was dysphagia, followed by regurgitation of ingested food and weight loss. Modified Heller's myotomy was performed through a transthoracic incision in 35 patients and a transabdominal incision in 1. An antireflux procedure in addition to esophagomyotomy was performed in 20 patients. There was 1 postoperative death. Thirty-three patients were followed up for periods ranging from 9 months to 21 years. The results were considered good in 27, fair in 2, and poor in 4. One of the 4 underwent repeat esophagomyotomy 71/2 years after the initial operation with a good result. The remaining 3 had an antireflux procedure at the time of esophagomyotomy. Because of recurrence of symptoms, esophagogastrostomy was performed in 1 and colon interposition in 2. These results suggest that an antireflux procedure should not be added to modified Heller's operation in the treatment of achalasia.