[Heller's myotomy without fundoplication: a series of 123 patients]

To Wrap or Not to Wrap After Heller Myotomy

Background and Objectives:

The primary aim of this study is to assess the necessity of fundoplication for reflux in patients undergoing Heller myotomy for achalasia. The secondary aim is to assess the safety of the robotic approach to Heller myotomy.

Methods:

This is a single institution, retrospective analysis of 61 patients who underwent robotic Heller myotomy with or without fundoplication over a 4-year period (January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2019). Symptoms were evaluated using pre-operative and postoperative Eckardt scores at < 2 weeks (short-term) and 4 – 55 months (long-term) postoperatively. Incidence of gastroesophageal reflux and use of antacids postoperatively were assessed. Long-term patient satisfaction and quality of life (QOL) were assessed with a phone survey. Finally, the perioperative safety profile of robotic Heller myotomy was evaluated.

Results:

The long-term average Eckardt score in patients undergoing Heller myotomy without fundoplication was notably lower than in patients with a fundoplication (0.72 vs 2.44). Gastroesophageal reflux rates were lower in patient without a fundoplication (16.0% vs 33.3%). Additionally, dysphagia rates were lower in patients without a fundoplication (32.0% vs 44.4%). Only 34.8% (8/25) of patients without fundoplication continued use of antacids in the long-term. There were no mortalities and a 4.2% complication rate with two delayed leaks.

Conclusion:

Robotic Heller myotomy without fundoplication is safe and effective for achalasia. The rate of reflux symptoms and overall Eckardt scores were low postoperatively. Great patient satisfaction and QOL were observed in the long term. Our results suggest that fundoplication is unnecessary when performing Heller myotomy.

Revisional surgery after heller myotomy for treatment of achalasia: a comparative analysis focusing on operative approach

Surgical myotomy is the gold standard in therapy for achalasia, but treatment failures occur and require revisional surgery. A MEDLINE search of peer-reviewed articles published in English from 1970 to December 2008 was performed using the following terms: esophageal achalasia, Heller myotomy, and revisional surgery. Thirty-three articles satisfied our inclusion criteria. A total of 12,727 patients, with mean age of 43.3 years (males 46% and females 50%), underwent Heller myotomy (open 94.8% and laparoscopic 5.2%). Revisional surgery was performed in 6.19%. Procedures performed included revision of the original myotomy or creation of a new myotomy with or without an antireflux procedure or esophagectomy. Reasons for reoperation were incomplete myotomy (51.8%), onset of reflux (34%), megaesophagus (16.2%), and esophageal carcinoma (3.04%). Systematic review of the literature for revisional surgery following Heller myotomy revealed a 6.19% rate of reoperation with a low mortality rate.

Laparoscopic esophagomyotomy for achalasia without a complementary antireflux procedure

BACKGROUND

Achalasia is a progressive motility disorder of the esophagus, without a definitive cure. The principal method of palliation is myotomy of the distal esophagus. We analyzed the 5-year experience at our institution with laparoscopic Heller myotomy without an antireflux procedure to determine its results, particularly regarding postoperative gastroesophageal reflux.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-three patients, mean age 43 years (range, 29-62 years) with clinical, manometric, x-ray, and endoscopic proof of achalasia were operated on and followed up for 24 months. Prior to being referred to surgery they had all undergone at least one pneumatic balloon dilation. The operative technique was a 7-cm myotomy that included the lower esophageal sphincter but did not exceed 5 mm of the gastric cardia. Follow-up consisted of clinical observation, cineesophagography, and 24-hour pHmetry.

RESULTS

All patients reported satisfactory to excellent results regarding dysphagia and no heartburn two years after the operation. The 24-hour pHmetry and the radiographic investigation showed no evidence of gastroesophageal reflux.

CONCLUSION

It seems that the risk of gastroesophageal reflux is very low when the cardiomyotomy does not exceed the length of 5 mm. Our results are in accordance with other observational studies as well as larger cohort and meta-analysis studies. Prospective randomized studies are needed to clarify the role of an antireflux procedure after laparoscopic Heller myotomy.

La cirugía laparoscópica en Europa: ¿hacia dónde vamos?

The most important factors that have facilitated the development of laparoscopic surgery (LS) are technological innovations and the vision of a small number of surgeons who took advantage of these advances. There are few surgical innovations that have stimulated such controversies and concerns and have raised so many medico-legal issues as LS. Although much progress has been made in LS, some important controversies remain unresolved, which are reviewed in the present article: 1. Evolution of the laparoscopic approach: total laparoscopic approach through positive-pressure capnoperitoneum, gasless laparoscopy, hand-assisted laparoscopy, and laparoscopy-assisted surgery. 2. Classification of current instrumental technology in laparoscopic surgery: a) facilitating instruments (high-power ultrasonic dissection systems); b) enabling instruments (endostapling and linear dissection devices), and c) complementary instruments: the Da Vinci robotic system. 3. Current laparoscopic surgical practice: a) interventions that definitively improve the patient's outcome (diagnostic and staging laparoscopy, cholecystectomy, adrenalectomy, splenectomy, antireflux surgery, cardiomyotomy, bariatric surgery, laparoscopic colon surgery, living donor nephrectomy); b) interventions that seem to be useful to the patient (distal pancreatic surgery, laparoscopic left hepatic resection, gastric and esophageal resections, hernioplasty), and c) interventions with uncertain benefit (right hepatectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy). 4. Future lines of development: video monitors in laparoscopic surgery, endoluminal surgery, robotic surgery, and finally, 5. Problems faced by laparoscopic surgery: quality guarantees in laparoscopic surgery, training the future laparoscopic generation, and allocation of sufficient material and human resources to laparoscopic surgery and its subspecialties.

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy with or without partial fundoplication: A matter of debate

AIM: To present our experience of laparoscopic Heller stretching myotomy followed by His angle reconstruction as surgical approach to esophageal achalasia.

METHODS: Thirty-two patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy; an anterior partial fundoplication in 17, and angle of His reconstruction in 15 cases represented the antireflux procedure of choice.

RESULTS: There were no morbidity and mortality recorded in both anterior funduplication and angle of His reconstruction groups. No differences were detected in terms of recurrent dysphagia, p.o. reflux or medical therapy.

CONCLUSION: To reduce the incidence of recurrent achalasia after laparoscopic Heller myotomy, we believe that His’ angle reconstruction is a safe and effective alternative to the anterior fundoplication.