title: [Digital videofluorography and esophageal achalasia: from diagnosis to follow-up].
abstract: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the use of digital videofluorography in the preoperative and postoperative management of esophageal achalasia surgical treatment. From 1990 to 2004, 25 patients with achalasia, diagnosed by digital videofluorography and confirmed by motility studies and endoscopy, underwent surgery. All patients underwent digital videofluorography at 1, 6 and 12 months in order to evaluate the completeness of the myotomy and the efficacy of the antireflux procedures. At postoperative videofluorography esophageal transit time was decreased in all patients (100%); esophageal motor activity was unchanged in 23 (92%), and modified in two patients (8%) with onset of peristaltic-like motor activity; 8 patients (35%) presented decreased preoperative dilatation; all patients had a WST negative for post-myotomy reflux. On the basis of our experience and the advantages of the procedure we suggest videofluorography as a first-approach diagnostic examination useful for surgical indications and postoperative follow-up in achalasic patients.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbiera
authors.forename: Nello
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buscemi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latteri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastrosimone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010779:Photofluorography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014741:Video Recording