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.
Gockel
Ines
I
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. gockel@ach.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Timm
Stephan
S
Sgourakis
George G
GG
Musholt
Thomas J
TJ
Rink
Andreas D
AD
Lang
Hauke
H
D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012086:Reoperation