title: Achalasia: Should pneumatic dilation be the primary treatment strategy?
abstract: The best long-term treatment results for patients with idiopathic achalasia have been achieved with pneumatic dilation or surgical myotomy. A new study adds evidence that good or excellent symptomatic results can be achieved in the long term when pneumatic dilation is used as the primary treatment strategy. In cases of early treatment failure (<2 years), surgery was found to be the best rescue therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Deutsche Klinik für Diagnostik, Aukammallee 33, 65191 Wiesbaden, Germany. eckardt.gastro@dkd-wiesbaden.de
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Eckardt
authors.forename: Volker F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Eckardt
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019233:Retreatment; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome