Symptoms and assessment
Common concerns include difficulty swallowing liquids and solids, regurgitation, chest discomfort and weight loss. Diagnosis usually requires specialist testing because other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
Treatment choices
Management may include pneumatic dilatation, surgical or endoscopic myotomy, medicines or other approaches. Age, health, test findings, local expertise and patient preference all influence the decision.
What dilatation involves
A specially positioned balloon is inflated across the lower oesophageal muscle to reduce resistance. The procedure has meaningful risks and is not appropriate for every patient.
Follow-up
Symptom review and sometimes repeat testing help assess response. Urgent assessment is needed after treatment for severe chest pain, breathing difficulty, fever, repeated vomiting, bleeding or worsening swallowing.
Questions patients often ask
Does achalasia affect solids only?+
Unlike many mechanical narrowings, achalasia can cause difficulty with both liquids and solids.
Is dilatation the only treatment?+
No. Several options exist, and an individual discussion is needed to compare likely benefits and risks.
Can symptoms return?+
Symptoms can recur after treatment. Ongoing gastroenterology follow-up is important.