What other treatment options are available for achalasia cardia type II other than the balloon inflation technique?

Question

Hello doctor,

My younger brother has been diagnosed with Achalasia cardia type II, and underwent balloon inflation twice, but there was no improvement. So now the doctors are recommending Heller myotomy. On our last visit, the doctor said that the esophagus is enlarged due to food pocketing or storage. Is there any natural or surgical way to restore the size of the esophagus? What are the complications of the surgery? Can it be fatal? Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

If he is not responding to the ballooning technque, then only two options are there:

1. POEM (peroral endoscopic myotomy) procedure.

2. Heller's myotomy.

Medicines cannot relax the sphincter at the lower esophagus, so he needs to choose from the above two. All the procedure have their complications.

Kindly revert for further queries.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Esophagus size will decrease only after surgery. Once the obstruction is released at the lower end, then the size will come back to normal. There is no need for additional surgery or procedure for this.

Thank you.