Abstract
BackgroundPneumatic dilation (PD) is often billed as a “short term” treatment for achalasia but anecdotally can last years. This study sought to explore how long a single pneumatic dilation may induce symptom remission in a treatment-naïve achalasia patient.MethodsA single center, retrospective chart review of patients with an ICD-9 or − 10 code of achalasia between 2005 and 2017 was performed. Treatment naïve patients with manometric diagnosis of primary achalasia were included. Outcomes (success or failure); single vs multiple PD; age; and estimated duration of effect were evaluated. Each patient underwent a single PD unless re-intervention was required for relapse.Results83 patients (52% female, median 51.6 ± 3.6 years) were included. 43% underwent 2 PD and 13% underwent 3 PD. There was no significant relation between age, gender, and number of PDs. After 1 PD, 87.5% of patients reported > 1 year of symptom remission. 80.5% of relapsed patients reported success after a 2nd dilation. 1 PD was more likely to result in success than multiple PDs (p < 0.001). The measured median duration of remission after 1 PD was 4.23 years, and for 2 PDs, 3.71 years. The median estimated remission time after 1 PD was 8.5 years (CI 7.3–9.7, p = 0.03).ConclusionsPD is a safe, durable treatment for achalasia. A single PD is likely to last years. A second PD, if required, also has a high likelihood of success.
Highlights
Pneumatic dilation (PD) is often billed as a “short term” treatment for achalasia but anecdotally can last years
Achalasia type III is suspected of having the least favorable outcome with pneumatic dilation (PD) [15,16,17,18]
Inclusion criteria and stratification Patients with a diagnosis of achalasia confirmed via conventional manometry or high resolution manometry (HRM) who underwent pneumatic dilation as a primary means of treatment were included in the initial sample
Summary
Pneumatic dilation (PD) is often billed as a “short term” treatment for achalasia but anecdotally can last years. Achalasia is a disorder characterized by impaired esophageal motility due to a) loss of peristaltic activity and b) failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax during swallowing [1,2,3,4]. It is a relatively rare disorder, with a cited incidence of 2–3 per 100,000 [5, 6] and a prevalence of 1 per 10,000 [7]. Achalasia usually presents as a combination of dysphagia, chest pain, weight loss, and regurgitation. Achalasia type III is suspected of having the least favorable outcome with pneumatic dilation (PD) [15,16,17,18]
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