Achalasia
Achalasia is a rare condition in which the muscle at the lower end of the food pipe fails to relax, so food and liquid struggle to pass into the stomach. It causes difficulty swallowing, regurgitation and weight loss, and is treated by balloon dilatation, surgery or POEM, a scarless endoscopic procedure.
Symptoms
- Difficulty swallowing both solids and liquids
- Regurgitation of undigested food
- Chest pain
- Weight loss
How it is diagnosed
- Upper GI endoscopy
- Barium swallow
- Oesophageal manometry
Treatment
- POEM (peroral endoscopic myotomy)
- Pneumatic balloon dilatation
- Surgical Heller myotomy
Questions patients ask
Can achalasia be cured?
The underlying nerve change cannot be reversed, but treatment usually restores comfortable swallowing for many years.
Related care
- POEM for achalasiaA scarless endoscopic procedure that relieves achalasia and other swallowing muscle disorders.
- Endoscopic dilatationWidening of narrowed areas in the food pipe or bowel to relieve swallowing problems and blockage.
- Upper GI endoscopyA camera look at the food pipe, stomach and duodenum, with biopsy or treatment in the same sitting.
Get achalasia checked
Book a consultation with Dr. Anil Kumar Mannava. No referral needed.