Long-term outcomes of Heller’s myotomy and balloon dilatation in childhood achalasia

Abstract

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder: its optimal treatment in children is still a matter of debate. Records of children treated for achalasia, over an 18-year period, were reviewed.

Forty-eight children (median age at diagnosis 10 years; range 3–17 years) were identified. Twenty-eight patients were initially treated with Heller's myotomy (HM) and 20 with balloon dilatation (BD). At last follow-up (median 3 years; range 1–5.5 years), 43.8% (21/48) of children were symptom free. The number of asymptomatic children was significantly higher among those treated initially with HM compared to BD (HM 15/28, 53.6% BD 6/20, 30%, p < 0.05). All children who underwent BD required HM due to symptom recurrence. The median (range) total number of procedures was significantly higher in the BD group (BD 3 (1–7); HM 1 (1–5); p < 0.05) with a shorter time to the second intervention (BD 14 months, 95%CI 4–24; HM 58 months, 95%CI 38–79; p < 0.05). Of 108 procedures, esophageal perforation occurred in two children after HM (two out of 48 HM procedures in total, 4%) and one child after BD (1/60, 1.7%).

Conclusion: Less than half of children with achalasia are symptom free after initial treatment with either BD or HM. HM, however, when performed as first procedure, provided longer symptom-free period and reduced need for subsequent intervention.

What is Known: • Balloon dilatation (BD) and Heller's myotomy (HM) are safe and effective treatment options for achalasia. • Controversy, however, exists regarding the most effective initial therapeutic approach.

What is New: • HM with or without fundoplication may represent the initial therapeutic approach of choice. • Initial BD may negatively affect the outcome of a subsequent HM.

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