The standard surgical treatment for achalasia of the esophagus is myotomy of the lower esophageal sphincter combined with an antireflux repair.
During the years 1958-1994, 124 patients with esophageal achalasia were treated at our clinic. A modified Girard's method has been successfully performed, as well as transabdominal and transthoracic approaches, and a laparoscopic approach has also been recently used. We have performed this operation through the latter laparoscopic approach with four patients to date.
Here we report a comparison of laparotomy with the laparoscopic approach. The clinical, radiological and manometric results confirmed that, at least in the short-term follow-up, the minimally invasive approach is safe and effective.
