[Manometric findings in esophageal achalasia]

Manometric studies represent nowadays a very useful diagnostic procedure to identify the various esophageal motility disturbances and brought an essential contribution to improve the pathologic knowledges on achalasia. The manometric experience during the past years has proved that achalasia is characterized by different evolutive steps, varying from an early and still compensate phase to an evolved stage with progressive esophageal dilatation. The manometric features are peculiar and the various stages of the disease may be easily identified, as well as it results form the study of the illustrative cases reported by the authors. The increased diagnostic possibilities have allowed an improvement in surgical management of achalasia. The best long-term results are really obtained in the cases operated on in early stages.