Achalasia--if surgical treatment fails: analysis of remedial surgery.
BACKGROUND
Heller myotomy leads to good-excellent long-term results in 90% of patients with achalasia and thereby has evolved to the "first-line" therapy. Failure of surgical treatment, however, remains an urgent problem which has been discussed controversially recently.


METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed to analyze the long-term results of failures after Heller's operation with emphasis on treatment by remedial myotomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Other reinterventions and their causes after failure of surgical treatment in patients with achalasia are discussed.
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. gockel@ach.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Ines
I
Gockel
Stephan
S
Timm
George G
GG
Sgourakis
Thomas J
TJ
Musholt
Andreas D
AD
Rink
Hauke
H
Lang
D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012086:Reoperation