HYPOTHESIS: Laparoscopic Heller esophageal myotomy improves esophageal clearance and symptoms of @entity1318 in the early and late postoperative periods. DESIGN: We followed up 98 consecutive @entity1 attending a referral center between February 1, 1994, and July 1, 2000, who underwent laparoscopic myotomy. Operative time, complications, and length of stay were recorded. Postoperative outcomes were assessed using Van Trappen symptom scores (1 indicates no symptoms; 2, symptoms occurring less than once a week; 3, symptoms occurring more than once weekly; and 4, persistent symptoms) and scintigraphic esophageal transit studies. RESULTS: Of 98 @entity1 , 91 underwent anterior fundoplication. There were no open conversions and 1 mucosal perforation, which was closed laparoscopically without complications. Mean operative times and postoperative days were 3.2 hours and 4.3 days, respectively, in the first 32 @entity1 and 1.7 hours and 2.3 days, respectively, in the last 32 @entity1 (P<.001). @entity260 included pneumothorax (4% of @entity1 ), @entity891 (5%), and delayed @entity356 (1%). Seventy-five percent of @entity1 gained weight after surgery. At longest follow-up, 91% of @entity1 were satisfied with the outcome of the procedure. Mean Van Trappen scores for @entity1282 improved from 4.0 in the preoperative period to 1.2 at early and late follow-up (P<.001). @entity6112 at 10 minutes in the upright position was 47% in the preoperative period and improved at early and late follow-up to 21% and 20%, respectively (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy can safely reverse the symptoms of @entity1318 and improve esophageal transit. These benefits, realized during the early postoperative period, were maintained at longest follow-up.

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy improves esophageal emptying and the symptoms of XXXX .

@entity1318 :: ('MESH:D004931', 'Disease') :: ['achalasia'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity6112 :: ('MESH:D016055', 'Disease') :: ['Fluid retention'] @entity260 :: ('MESH:D011183', 'Disease') :: ['Postoperative complications'] @entity891 :: ('MESH:D001261', 'Disease') :: ['atelectasis'] @entity1282 :: ('MESH:D003680', 'Disease') :: ['dysphagia'] @entity356 :: ('MESH:D013274', 'Disease') :: ['gastric emptying']
@entity1318 :: (MESH:D004931,Disease) :: ['achalasia']
