Chagas' megaesophagus: manometric studies before and after Thal's fundic patch operation

The authors present their experience with manometric studies, before and after Thal's fundic patch operation, in patients with Chagas' megaesophagus. The preoperative studies showed in the majority of the patients synchronous, waves of normal duration, that had low peak pressure and were repetitive (vigorous achalasia). The postoperative studies showed disappearance of the vigorous achalasia in over half the patients and increase of the contraction peak pressure in one patient.