Pneumatic dilatation for achalasia of the esophagus: report of three patients treated with self-constructed pneumatic bags using the endoscopic technique.

Three patients with achalasia of the esophagus treated with pneumatic bag dilatation were reported. The preliminary result is encouraging. To what extent the difference in the type of bags and technical variations contributed to the ultimate outcome of the treatment is not known. The endoscopically aided pneumatic dilatation was found to be safe and simple.