[Radionuclide esophageal transit assessment in patients after Heller's myotomy in achalasia].

Radionuclide transit (RT) assessment of esophageal clearance was carried out in 40 patients after Heller's myotomy for achalasia and in 13 normal subjects as controls. The results showed that RT was significantly delayed irrespective to the length of postoperative period. This explained the cause of swallowing disorders in most patients after surgery. Our observation suggested that Heller's myotomy should be done as early as possible for the purpose of preventing esophageal dilation although esophageal peristalsis can not be restored by this procedure.