Introduction:

Achalasia is a primary motor disorder of the esophagus infrequent in the population, affects one in 100,000 people year and is characterized by the absence of esophageal peristalsis and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter in relation to swallowing or frequently in association with a sphincter lower esophageal hypertensive. The most common presentation symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation of undigested food, weight loss, chest pain and respiratory symptoms such as night cough, aspiration and pneumonia.The treatment of achalasia has evolved in relation to the better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease with tools such as high resolution manometry, as well as the development of new surgical techniques of minimally invasive surgery in addition to the recent emergence of third-space surgery. The development and diffusion of minimally invasive surgery techniques in the last 30 years has radically changed the algorithm of achalasia management. In 2010 the history of third-space surgery begins with the presentation of Inoue & colls with 17 consecutive cases of endoscopic myotomy per oral POEM for the treatment of achalasia.

Objective:

In the present work we present a historical review of the management of achalasia in the general hospital “Dr. Manuel Gea González “until now with the retrospective review of the results of the CMI surgery and the comparison with the results obtained so far with third space surgery.

Materials and methods:

We performed a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with achalasia for 10 years (2007-2017), treated in the endoscopic surgery unit using CMI. The inclusion criteria were: confirmed diagnosis of achalasia and subsequent surgical management. The 1-month follow-up was the next inclusion criterion. The next group analyzed was 11 patients in a period of 3 years (2016-1019) with a diagnosis of achalasia and subsequently treated by third-space surgery (POEM). The comparative results are presented.

Results:

Of the 58 patients in the CMI group, the average age was 44, with an average of Eckardt of 7 being the most prevalent symptoms of dysphagia and regurgitation. Through the standard technique of Heller with antireflux procedure, an important improvement was achieved in the Eckardt scale of 2 (1-4). Complications occurred in 8.6% of cases. Reflux symptoms occurred in 10% of patients. In the POEM group, the average age of the patients was 63 years. The Eckardt scale improved from 8 to 1 after the procedure and there were no complications inherent to the procedure. Subcutaneous emphysema was the most common finding after the procedure.

Conclusion:

To date, with around 6,000 procedures performed worldwide, third-space surgery has become the least invasive method with results similar to those obtained with MIS (Minimally invasive surgery). Even with controversies to be defined in terms of technique, endoscopic myotomy is emerging to become the treatment of choice in achalasia.

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