Long-term efficacy of modified retrievable stents for treatment of achalasia cardia

Evaluating the Non-conventional Achalasia Treatment Modalities

Introduction

Achalasia is a primary esophageal dysmotility disorder. Despite the high volume of studies addressing the conventional treatments for achalasia, few are debated regarding the non-conventional treatments, such as cardiectomy, cardioplasty, endoluminal substances injection (ethanolamine oleate, polidocanol, botulinum toxin), stents, and certain drugs (beta-agonists, anticholinergic, nitrates, calcium channel blockers, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors).

Methods

A critical review was performed.

Results

Endoscopic, surgical, and pharmacological treatments were included. A qualitative synthesis was presented.

Conclusion

Non-conventional therapeutic options for treating achalasia encompass medical, endoscopic, and surgical procedures. Clinicians and patients need to know all the tools for the management of achalasia. However, several currently available studies of non-conventional treatments lack high-quality evidence, and future randomized trials are still needed.

ASGE guideline on the management of achalasia

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder of unknown etiology characterized by degeneration of the myenteric plexus, which results in impaired relaxation of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), along with the loss of organized peristalsis in the esophageal body. The criterion standard for diagnosing achalasia is high-resolution esophageal manometry showing incomplete relaxation of the EGJ coupled with the absence of organized peristalsis. Three achalasia subtypes have been defined based on high-resolution manometry findings in the esophageal body. Treatment of patients with achalasia has evolved in recent years with the introduction of peroral endoscopic myotomy. Other treatment options include botulinum toxin injection, pneumatic dilation, and Heller myotomy. This American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Standards of Practice Guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of achalasia, based on an updated assessment of the individual and comparative effectiveness, adverse effects, and cost of the 4 aforementioned achalasia therapies.

Achalasia: treatment, current status and future advances

Achalasia was first described in the 17th century and its treatment continues to be challenging. Palliative treatment involves disruption of the lower esophageal sphincter, which can be accomplished mechanically (balloon dilation or surgical myotomy) or chemically (Botox). True surgical treatment originated some 100 years ago and remained largely unchanged until the advent of thoracoscopic and then laparoscopic myotomy beginning in the 1980s. Because these procedures provided relatively definitive treatment and were well tolerated by patients, minimal invasive surgery assumed a primary role in the treatment algorithms for achalasia. In 2008, an endoscopic (incision-less) myotomy approach, per-oral endoscopic myotomy, was described. This even less invasive approach has rapidly been adopted in the majority of high-volume achalasia centers. Newer interventions, such as stenting and cell transplant, are under active investigation.