title: Retrospective analysis of paediatric achalasia in India: single centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Developing countries at tertiary referral centre. The aim of this study was to share our experience of paediatric achalasia in Indian scenario.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective analysis of children <16 years, operated for achalasia at our centre, from December 1998 to December 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 40 patients (mean age 39 ± 4.29 months), including 1 patient of megaesophagus were operated over 13 years of period; 17 patients (associated congenital H-type tracheoesophageal fistula in one patient, non- responders/ lost follow-up for minimum of 3 years in 16 patients) were excluded from the study. The response rate of parents in follow-up was 60.0%. Mean symptoms duration was 27.88 ± 2 months. Most common symptoms were regurgitation and failure to thrive (78.2%). Mean symptom scoring in follow-up after 3 year was 1 ± 0.7 compared to 5 ± 0.51 at the time of admission (P < 0.012). One infant expired (mediastenitis), one developed adhesive intestinal obstruction and one needed posterior re-myotomy (for megaesophagus). There were no treatment failures in mean follow-up of 40.2 ± 5.07 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiomyotomy with partial fundoplication is the best modality of treatment for paediatric achalasia cardia, even from parents' perspective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, CSM Medical University (Erstwhile King George Medical University), Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakhlu
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Shiv Narayan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kureel
authors.forename: Jiledar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rawat
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies