ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out frequency of improvement of symptoms and complications rate following endoscopic esophageal balloon dilation in patients with achalasia cardia
Study design: Case series
Place and duration of study: Department of Surgery Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi, from January 2006 to September 2013
Methodology: Patients in whom diagnosis of esophageal achalasia was made on investigations [barium swallow and / or manometry] were included. These patients were subjected to balloon dilation. The procedure was performed using Olympus achalasia balloon dilators. All patients were followed up and their responses were noted. Excellent response was defined as improvement of dysphagia for both solids and liquids. In good response category those patients were included who had improvement of dysphagia for both solids and liquids but problems with food intake persisted. In poor response category patients there was no improvement following balloon dilation. Time to recurrence of symptoms and complications were also noted
Results: A total of sixty patients were included. There were 31males [51.7%] and 29 [48.3%] females. Male to female ratio was 1.07:1. The age of the patients ranged from 13 to 65 year. The mean age was 35.48 +/- 13.36 year. Seventy five dilations were performed [mean 1.25 +/- 0.54]. In 35 [58.33%] patients excellent response was obtained while 19 [31.67%] patients had good response. In 6 [10%] patients no improvement was seen. These were put into poor response category. In one [1.7%] patient esophageal perforation occurred. In six patients [10%] surgery was advised as no improvement following multiple sessions of balloon dilation occurred
Conclusion: Achalasia cardia can be managed effectively with balloon dilation under fluoroscopy