Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy and Dor Fundoplication: Prospective Evaluation of 30 Consecutive Patients

Prospective studies evaluating outcome of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication for esophageal achalasia are less in Asian people. This study conducted to evaluate the results of laparoscopic cardiomyotomy and partial fundoplication for achalasia. Thirty patients who underwent Heller myotomy for achalasia via laparoscopy in Alzahra hospital Isfahan, Iran were recorded prospectively (2009 - 2013). Median follow-up was 18 months. Symptoms including dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain and weight loss were recorded before and after operation. Also, previous treatment for achalasia such as endoscopic pneumatic dilatations and intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin or other component, duration of symptoms and duration and complication of operation was recorded. Among 30 patients, there were 13 (43.3%) females and 17 (56.7%) males, and mean age was 40.8 years (range, 20 - 68 years). The operations were finished laparoscopically in all patients. Mean operative time was 137 ± 36.2 minutes. The patients were symptomatic for at least 30 months before referring for surgery. There are some difficulties in dissection in cases who received Ethanolamine or Botholinum Toxin injection as non-surgical treatment before that. Mean hospital stay was 2.45 days. Regurgitation, chest pain and heartburn relieved significantly in median follow up of 18 months, in 100%, 66.6% and 70%, respectively (P < 0.001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). At that time, except for two (6.6%) patients, all other patients had improvement in dysphagia (P < 0.001) .The mucosa in two (6.6%) of patients was perforated on the gastric end of the xylotomy. The perforations were repaired laparoscopically with single suture without postoperative leak. Our study showed that laparascopic Helermyotomy with Dor fundoplication result in significant relief of dysphagia. Overall clinical symptoms indicate improvement in patient functional status during 18-month follow-up.