• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.537-545
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• 2023

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by impaired lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and peristalsis of the esophageal body. With the increasing prevalence of achalasia, interest in the role of endoscopy in its diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring is also growing. The major diagnostic modalities for achalasia include high-resolution manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and barium esophagography. Endoscopic assessment is important for early diagnosis to rule out diseases that mimic achalasia symptoms, such as pseudo-achalasia, esophageal cancer, esophageal webs, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The major endoscopic characteristics suggestive of achalasia include a widened esophageal lumen and food residue in the esophagus. Once diagnosed, achalasia can be treated either endoscopically or surgically. The preference for endoscopic treatment is increasing owing to its minimal invasiveness. Botulinum toxins, pneumatic balloon dilation, and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are important endoscopic treatments. Previous studies have demonstrated excellent treatment outcomes for POEM, with >95% improvement in dysphagia, making POEM the mainstay treatment option for achalasia. Several studies have reported an increased risk of esophageal cancer in patients with achalasia. However, routine endoscopic surveillance remains controversial owing to the lack of sufficient data. Further studies on surveillance methods and duration are warranted to establish concordant guidelines for the endoscopic surveillance of achalasia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1098-1101
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• 1992

Esophageal achalasia is a disease with characteristic disorder of esophageal motility. Also, this disorder is known to be predisposing factor of malignancy. Although the incidence of esophageal cancer in patients with achalasia varies widely, the incidence hed been reported from l% to 29% in many articles. It is known that delay in management of achalasia is believed to increase the risk of malignant degeneration. We experience a case with esophageal cancer complicating longstanding esophageal achalasia.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.302-306
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• 1997

Persistent pharygoesophageal spasm has been demonstrated to be responsible for poor speech rehabilitation after laryngectomy Management of these patients has included bougienage and pharyngeal neurectomy. Achalasia is a disorder of swallowing in which the lower esophageal sphincter fails to relax. Botulinum toxin injection of the upper esophageal sphincter or lower esophageal sphincter has been successfully used diagnostically and therapeutically for esophageal speech failure or achalasia. So, we report the use of botulinum toxin, a paralytic agent, for the treatment of these conditions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.451-455
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• 1982

For recently 2 years, 3 cases of esophageal achalasia were surgically treated by modified Heller operation with gastric fundoplication. Esophageal achalasia is functional disorder of lower esophagus of which symptoms are dysphasia, regurgitation, and weight loss. Preoperative diagnosis was made by clinical manifestations and radiologic examination, esophagoscopy and confirmed at operative table. Operative procedures are variable, but modified Heller operation is common method to handicap reflux esophagitis and postoperative esophageal stricture. Now, our patients who were surgically treated were well alive without complaining of specific symptoms for followed period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 1979

Esophagocardiomyotomy [modified Heller procedure] is a widely accepted operation for relief of dysphagia in patient with esophageal achalasia. But patients with advanced achalasia were more likely to get poorer results from a modified Heller myotomy because of the dependent pouch that creates an angulation at the junction of thick-walled dilated esophagus with the thin wailed aganglionic segment and hinders complete emptying. Thorbjarnarson[1975] proposed the method including truncal vagectomy and pyloroplasty. Vagectomy and pyloroplasty should lesson the severity of acid-peptic esophagitis, if reflux should occur postoperatively. Here we presented 4 cases esophageal achalasia treated by modified Heller operation of 3 cases and one case of Thorbjarnarson method. All postoperative results are good.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.717-721
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• 1994

Extramucosal esophagomyotomy by thoracotomy, first described by Heller in 1913 was the principal therapy for achalasia. Recently however, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been implied in esophageal surgery, and we have experienced 23 year old male patient with dysphagia and was diagnosed as achalasia who underwent thoracoscopic esophagomyotomy. The esophagogram showed typical bird beak appearance and the lower esophageal sphincter pressure was increased to 35 mmHg. Thoracoscopic surgery was done twice due to incomplete myotomy in first operation and the patient was released of dysphagia in the second operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.815-820
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• 1993

We experienced a case of esophageal leiomyoma combined with achalasia that is very rare. Patient had suffered from severe dysphagia and postprandial vomiting and diagnosis was accomplished by esophagography, esophagoscopy, chest CT, and esophageal motility test. The operative treatment was done through left lateral thoracotomy by enucleation of the submucosal tumor and esophagomyotomy. By histopathological findings, the diagnosis of leiomyoma was confirmed and LES biopsy revealed absence of the ganglion cells of myenteric and Auerbach`s plexus. Symptoms of the patient were completely relieved and postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2017

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is common in laryngologic practice. In Korea, up to 1 out of every 5 patients who visit otorhinolaryngology clinic is supposed to have LPRD with symptoms and physical findings. Major symptoms of LPRD include hoarseness, cough, reflux symptom and mild dysphagia. Even though LPRD is common, its diagnosis may be difficult, because its symptoms are nonspecific and the laryngeal findings are not always associated with symptom severity. In Recent study, 66.4% of Patient who has LPRD also associated with esophageal motility disorders. Esophageal achalasia is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by an absence of peristalsis in the body of esophagus and nonrelaxing hypertension of the lower esophageal sphincter. Common cause is loss of ganglion cells in Auerbachs plexus. The classic triad of symptoms in achalasia includes dysphagia, regurgitation and weight loss. LPRD and esophageal achalasia have similar symptoms but have different treatment of choice. The Differentiation diagnosis of theses disease is important and should be established by history, radiologic examination and endoscopic examination. We recently assessed a 59-year-old female patient who complained of an epigastric pain, dysphagia and chronic cough. LPRD was initially diagnosed on Laryngoscopic examination and Reflux Symptom Index, but patient was not relieved of any symptoms after treatment of Proton Pump Inhibitor for 3 months. After high resolution manometry, esophageal achalasia was finally diagnosed. We report this case regarding the diagnosis and treatment with review of literatures because we have to think about esophageal motility disorders as a differential diagnosis in laryngology.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.218-223
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• 2001

Achalasia is a rare motor disorder of the esophageal smooth muscle in which the lower esophageal sphincter dose not relax properly with swallowing, and the normal peristalsis of the esophageal body is replaced by abnormal contractions. Achalasia has been described as party of several distinct multisystem syndromes suggesting a generalized neuromuscular disorder as the mode of origin. An 11-year-old female was admitted because of paresthesia on the trunk and both legs for 5 days. She had suffered from chest discomfort, dysphagia, postprandial vomiting, and weight loss for 6 months. She was diagnosed as having achalasia by means of the esophagography and esophageal manometry. Her chest discomfort, dysphagia and vomiting much improved after the endoscopic balloon dilatation. The authors present an 11-year-old female with achalasia complained of paresthesia and sucessfully managed by the balloon dilatation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.792-795
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• 1984

The modified Hellers myotomy for esophageal achalasia is known as the best procedure. A properly performed transthoracic esophagomyotomy is essential to prevent complications. But it has some problems such as persistent achalasia due to inadequate myotomy, recurrence due to the healing of myotomy and reflux esophagitis due to destruction of the lower esophageal sphincter. The methods of the reoperation after esophagomyotomy for achalasia of the esophagus consist of 1 ] for persistent achalasia due to inadequate myotomy, additional myotomy feasible. 2] for esophageal reflux, a long-limb jejunal gastric drainage after vagotomy and hemigastrectomy, jejunal after conservative resection for stricture. We experienced 3 cases of reoperation after esophagomyotomy for achalasia of the esophagus. The 1st and 3rd case belongs to 30 cases which were undertaken the primary operation at the National Medical Center from 1961 to 1984. The 2nd case was undertaken the primary operation at other hospital. The 1st and 3rd case were reoperated because of persistent achalasia due to inadequate myotomy and 2rid case was caused by stricture due to reflux esophagitis. The methods of the reoperation were additional myotomy in 1st case, esophagogastrectomy and lower thoracic esophagogastrostomy in 2nd case, and esophagogastrectomy and mid-thoracic esophagogastrostomy in 3rd case. All three cases were complicated with postoperative reflux esophagitis.