Endoscopic Balloon Dilation for Achalasia in the Era of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM). Thirty years’ experience

Aim: the unresolved problem with the large amount of treatment options for the achalasia cardia indicates the absence of a perfect treatment method. The large interest in peroral endoscopic myotomy, as in any innovation, leads to disregard of other treatment methods and the absence of an alternative. Therefore, attention to a simple, low-cost and effective way of dilating the cardia should again be drawn. Materials and methods. This article summarizes the results of 30 years of experience in treating functional obstruction of the cardia with endoscopic balloon dilation in 353 patients. The technical features of the intervention with the specially designed balloons fixed to the endoscope, as well as large-diameter wire-guided balloons are described in the article. Results. Criteria for assessing the end of endoscopic treatment of achalasia and cardiospasm are given. It is shown that the correct technique of the intervention gives good and satisfactory immediate results up to 95%, long-term - up to 80% of cases with 1 to 26 years remission. Conclusion: endoscopic balloon dilation is an equal, well-developed minimally invasive method for treating achalasia cardia and can technically be performed at any stage of the disease.

кардиоспазм, ахалазия кардии, эндоскопическая баллонная дилатация кардии, пневмодилатация кардии, гидродилатация кардии, РОЕМ, cardiospasm, achalasia cardia, endoscopic balloon dilation of the cardia, cardia pneumatic dilation, cardia hydrodilatation, POEM