[Dilatation versus surgery in the treatment of cardial achalasia]

Both surgery and dilatation are useful for the treatment of cardial achalasia. The authors make a wide review of the literature with particular attention to reports comparing results of these procedures. This review evidences that surgery gives better results than dilatations (84.4% of good results with surgery against 71.4% with repeated dilatations) and is certainly more stable over the years. Mini-invasive surgery points out even more strongly that surgery is nowadays to be preferred. Laparoscopy makes it possible to avoid postoperative pain, to discharge the patient in a couple of days and finally to eliminate surgical scars. Complications, even more frequent after surgery (5.5% against 2.1% of dilatation) are still acceptable in number and not heavy in quality.