Achalasia cardia is an uncommon disorder causing patient difficulty in swallowing food and drink. It does not simply fall through the food-pipe into the stomach. In achalasia cardia, two problems are seen commonly, first inability of pumping action of the wall of the food-pipe, second also loss of ability of the valve to relax in response to approach of food; resulting in ingested food and drink get collected in the food-pipe showing the symptoms of “blockage” behind the breastbone. The main cause of achalasia is degeneration of the nerve cells in the esophagus (the food pipe) for which the exact reason is yet not known.
Symptoms and Signs of achalasia cardia
- Can be seen in any age group
- It affects both sexes
- Main symptoms are difficulty to swallow solids and liquid food, chest pain and regurgitation
- Progressive dysphagia and weight loss
Laparoscopic Procedure for Achalasia Cardia treatment is most effective procedure for the treatment in which the muscle of the sphincter, under direct vision is cut. This procedure is called “hellers cardiomyotomy” and is done entirely by trained laparoscopic surgeon with key-hole surgery. This procedure requires 5 tiny-hole incisions each less than half an inch on the abdominal and performed under general anaesthesia.The procedure is generally combined with a antireflux procedure also. The duration of surgery is 60-90 minutes and requires overnight stay/ 2 days stay in hospital.
Dr Randeep Wadhawan has performed many Laparoscopic Procedures for Achalasia Cardia with his multi-disciplinary team at Fortis Hospital’s state of the art facility.
