What Is Achalasia?
10. Surgery
If other treatments are not successful then surgery will likely be recommended. This will typically include a procedure known as a Heller myotomy. The procedure involves cutting the esophageal sphincter so that food is able to pass through freely. During the same operation, the surgeon may also perform a fundoplication.
With the sphincter left permanently open, the patient will be prone to experiencing some rather unpleasant reflux symptom. A fundoplication will use the top of the stomach to create a flap that helps prevent the stomach’s juices from leaving the stomach. These procedures can be performed as open surgery, or as minimally invasive surgery in some cases.
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