PS01.014: DESCRIPTION OF ACHALASIA PATIENTS IN CUBA: NINE-YEAR EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Abstract Background Achalasia is a primary neurodegenerative disease of the esophagus characterized by loss of function of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and aperistalsis of the body of the esophagus. Among the diagnostic elements, conventional or high-resolution esophageal manometry is the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosis. In this study, our objective was to investigate the epidemiology and characteristics of patients with Achalasia, seen at the CNCMA, Cuba. Methods A retrospective, descriptive and observational study was performed on patients with Achalasia, diagnosed through conventional esophageal manometry, from January 2006 to December 2015. The database of patients diagnosed with the disease is analyzed at the center's Motility Laboratory. Esophageal manometries were performed by the perfusion method, with Medtronic equipment, 4 register channel catheters, at 5 cm from each other, with Polygram software, from 2005 to 2008 and from then on with catheters Zynetic, Alpine, and Polygram.Net software version 4.1.1322. The consent was asked to performance the test and the scientific use of the results. Results 332 patients were diagnosed with achalasia through manometry. More than half of patients with achalasia in this study were female, over 40 years. Patients had no proved associations with other diseases. By conventional esophageal manometry, the typical features were poor relaxation, normal basal pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter and absence of esophageal peristalsis. Conclusion Conventional esophageal manometry was useful to stablish the diagnostic of Achalasia, showing the typical features of the disease. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.