1. Laparoscopic re-operation for failed Heller myotomy
- Author
-
Anouki Karu, Atif Iqbal, Charles J. Filipi, Kiran K. Turaga, Murtaza Haider, Sumeet K. Mittal, Vanessa Salinas, and Brent J. Tierney
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Reoperation ,Myotomy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Manometry ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Perforation (oil well) ,Fundoplication ,Achalasia ,Chest pain ,Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ,medicine ,Humans ,Treatment Failure ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Heller myotomy ,business.industry ,Gastroenterology ,Heartburn ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Dysphagia ,Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse ,Surgery ,Esophageal Achalasia ,Pneumothorax ,Patient Satisfaction ,Anesthesia ,Female ,Laparoscopy ,medicine.symptom ,business - Abstract
SUMMARY. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia has a 10–20% failure rate and may require re-operation to control persistent or recurrent symptoms. We report follow-up of 15 patients who underwent laparoscopic re-operation for failed Heller myotomy. Between 1993 and 2004, 15 patients underwent laparoscopic re-operation for failed Heller myotomy at our center. The mean duration between procedures was 23 months. Follow-up was completed at a mean duration of 30 months in 14 patients (93%) via a telephone questionnaire. Our overall failure rate for primary surgery (n = 106) was 5.6%. The mechanisms of failure were incomplete myotomy (33%), myotomy fibrosis (27%), fundoplication disruption (13%), too tight fundoplication (7%) and a combination of myotomy fibrosis and incomplete myotomy (20%). Significant symptom improvement was observed with postoperative symptom resolution seen in 71% of patients with dysphagia, 89% for regurgitation, 58% for heartburn and 40% for chest pain. Fifty percent reported excellent results and 79% would recommend the procedure to a friend. Subsequent dilations were performed in four patients (29%). Two patients required conversion to open surgery (13%). Three patients (20%) failed the re-operation and required further revisional surgery. Complications included intraoperative perforation in three (none of which resulted in postoperative morbidity) and a pneumothorax in one patient. Prior endoscopic therapies (pneumatic dilation or Botulinum toxin) were not associated with poor results. Laparoscopic re-operation for failed Heller myotomy is feasible and results are encouraging.
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF