title: Heller-Belsey and Heller-Nissen operations for achalasia of the esophagus.
abstract: From 1972 to 1985, 101 consecutive patients underwent Heller's myotomy and Belsey repair (H + B) (n = 43) or Nissen fundoplication (H + N) (n = 58) for achalasia of the esophagus. There was no operative mortality after either operation; minor pulmonary complications occurred after H + B procedure in 9.3 per cent of the patients. Good to excellent long term results were achieved in 87 per cent of the patients after H + B repair and 83 per cent of the patients undergoing H + N. The failure rates were 2.5 and 11.3 per cent, respectively. The analyses of postoperative esophageal symptoms showed that the incidence of heartburn was greater after H + B repair and the incidence of obstructive symptoms was greater after H + N. The inability to vomit or belch, or both, was 10.2 per cent in the H + B group and 13.1 per cent in the H + N group. Finally, 56.4 per cent of patients after H + B repair and 41.0 per cent of those after myotomy and H + N were considered to be cured after the operative procedure was performed. Patients were improved in 41.0 and 47.3 per cent, respectively.
authors.affiliation: I Department of Surgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stipa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fegiz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iascone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moraldi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Marchi
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chieco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002299:Cardia / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000601:surgery*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000601:surgery; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000601:surgery; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies