How can I choose the best Achalasia treatment?
Achalasia's best treatment depends on your doctor's assessment, your personal preferences and what approaches you may have tried. This rare disorder that affects the function of the esophagus can sometimes be solved by drugs or injections. Other patients may require minimally invasive procedure called balloon dilatation. If other approaches are unsuccessful, he may try to surgery.
Achalasia occurs when the esophagus is unable to properly move food from the mouth of a person towards the stomach. This is due to a disorder of the lower esophagus sphincter, a muscle ring located at the intersection of the stomach and esophagus. Usually this ring relaxes when one swallows. In patients with this disorder, the ring is released.
There is no medicine for this disorder, but Achalasia can help alleviate symptoms such as chest pain, heartburn and swallowing problems. It is important to address other complications of Achalalasia, including food regurgitation, unintentional weight loss and possible malnutrition. SomePatients may first try oral drugs at first, although they are often not sufficient. Some medicines can help release a lower esophagus sphincter. These include calcium channel blockers and long -acting nitrates. Unfortunately, this can also cause side effects such as low blood pressure, headaches and swollen legs.
If you have tried oral medicines and still need further treatment of Achalasia, ask your doctor about botulin injections. It is a toxin that is injected into the esophagus sphincter and forces it to relax. Botulin injections are not a permanent solution; They will have to repeat after a few months. Be aware that if you need surgery later, this option can increase the likelihood of failure. Your doctor will usually recommend these injections by a poor candidate for surgery or you are older.
Achalasia treatment may also include balloon expansion. In thatThe doctor puts a special type of balloon into the lower esophagus sphincter and inflates it. This increases the narrow ring. Patients may sometimes need repeated treatment. In most cases, when this procedure is successful, you will notice permanent results.
The type of invasive surgery called esophagomyotomyotomyotomyotomy is another possibility of Achalasia treatment. It is usually successful, often with permanent results. Esophagomyotomy involves cutting the muscle of the esophageal sphincter. This operation can be performed either by a large cut in the chest or abdomen or by several smaller slices in the abdomen. Talk to your doctor about potential risks and side effects before submitting any procedure to treat Achalasia.