24-h pH monitoring patterns and clinical response after achalasia treatment with pneumatic dilation or laparoscopic Heller myotomy.
BACKGROUND
The most effective treatment for achalasia is pneumatic dilation or myotomy. The best option is still controversial and incidence of complications could help choosing. Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) is the most frequent complication after treatment for achalasia. The 24-h pH monitoring (24-h pH) is the best method to evaluate true GER.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the 24-h pH patterns after treatment, correlating with therapeutic success.


METHODS
Untreated patients with achalasia were randomized to pneumatic dilation or laparoscopic Heller myotomy with fundoplication (LHM+Fp) and evaluated with clinical/manometric results and 24-h pH.


RESULTS
Ninety-four patients were analysed pre-treatment and 85 post-treatment. Clinical success was 73.8% in pneumatic dilation group and 88.3% in LHM+Fp group (P = 0.08). The incidence of GER was 31% in pneumatic dilation, and 4.7% in LHM+Fp (P = 0.001). The occurrence of hypotensive lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) was 53.3% in patients who developed GER and 28.6% in patients with 24-h pH suggesting fermentation (P = 0.019). The rates of dysphagia resolution in patients with 24-h pH of GER and fermentation were respectively 86.7% and 85.7% (P = 0.89).


CONCLUSIONS
True GER 24-h pH is more frequent after pneumatic dilation for achalasia, and it is associated with a hypotensive LES. A 24-h pH suggestive of fermentation or true GER is not associated with worse clinical/manometric results.
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Brazil. paulanovais@gmail.com
P A
PA
Novais
E M O
EM
Lemme
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004106:Dilatation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome