Efficacy and Safety of Pneumatic Dilatation for Achalasia in the Treatment of Post-Myotomy Symptom Relapse

Abstract

In treating symptom recurrence, following prior Heller myotomy, pneumatic dilatation is safe and yields an excellent short-term response rate. Although the long-term relapse rate is substantial, subsequent on demand pneumatic dilatation in this population is highly effective with a long-term remission rate of 95%. These data also highlight the need to keep these patients under long-term review.