Published in:
01-04-2015 | Original Article
Efficacy and safety of pneumatic balloon dilation in achalasia: a 12-year experience
Published in: Esophagus | Issue 2/2015
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Background
There is a large variability in clinical practice and in the literature, and no controlled trial with adequate sample size for performing pneumatic balloon dilation (BD) for achalasia. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pneumatic BD for achalasia over a 12-year period.
Methods
We undertook a retrospective review of the medical records of 45 patients who underwent BD for achalasia at a single institution between 2000 and 2013. The primary objectives were the efficacy and safety of BD, patients were followed up every 6 months and the secondary goal was the evaluation of the epidemiological characteristics of achalasia.
Results
A total of 45 patients were analysed, of whom 25 (55.6 %) were female. The mean age (SD) of the sample was 54 years. Out of 66 dilations, we were successful in 62 dilations (93.94 %); three were unsuccessful due to perforation of the oesophagus, and one dilation was declared unsuccessful. Of the total patients, three (6.6 %) needed more than two BDs.
Conclusion
Endoscopically controlled BD based on the free choice of the diameter of a balloon and duration of dilation is an effective and safe therapeutic modality of achalasia.