title: Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic Heller's myotomy in the treatment of esophageal achalasia.
abstract: The treatment of esophageal achalasia has been controversial for many years. Even if a myotomy performed through a left thoracotomy gives better results than pneumatic dilatation, the fear of an operation with the associated postoperative pain and disability has kept patients away from this form of treatment. Minimally invasive surgery allows the same results obtained with open surgery, with a short hospital stay, minimal postoperative discomfort, and a fast recovery time. A thoracoscopic or laparoscopic Heller's myotomy should be considered today the primary form of treatment for esophageal achalasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arcerito
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
mesh_terms: D019723:Endoscopes; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000601:surgery*; D004944:Esophagoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D020706:Laparoscopes; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D016896:Treatment Outcome