HELLER-BELSEY AND HELLER-NISSEN OPERATIONS FOR ACHALASIA OF THE ESOPHAGUS

  • 1 March 1990
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 170  (3) , 212-216
Abstract
From 1972 to 1985, 101 consecutive patients underwent Heller''s myotomy and Belsey epair (H+B) (n=43) or Nissen fundoplication (H+N) (n=58) for achalasia of the esophagus. There was no operative mortality after either operation; minor pulmonary complications occurred after H+B procedure in 9.3 per cent of the patients. Good to excellent long term results were achieved in 87 per cent of the patients after H+B repair and 83 per cent of the patients undergoing H+N. The failure rates were 2.5 and 11.3 per cent, respectively. The analyses of postoperative esophageal symptoms showed that the incidence of heartburn was greater after H+B repair and the incidence of obstructive symptoms was greater after H+N. The inability to vomit or belch, or both, was 10.2 per cent in the H+B group and 13.1 per cent in the H+N group. Finally, 56.4 per cent of patients after H+B repair and 41.0 per cent of those after myotomy and H+N were considered to be cured after the operative procedure was performed. Patients were improved in 41.0 and 47.3 per cent, respectively.