Results of treatment with the endoscope dilator in 11 patients with achalasia of the esophagus.

The conservative treatment of achalasia of the esophagus with balloon or mechanical dilators may be difficult, or even impossible, it the esophagus in an advanced illness is so tortuous (sigmoid esophagus) that the dilator cannot be placed in the cardia. An endoscope dilator with the aid of which dilation is readily possible even in such cases, has been developed by various individuals. Our own experience and the results obtained in 11 patients with esophageal achalasia treated with the endoscope dilator, are presented. The particular advantages of this method of treatment are simple, low-risk placement of the balloon in the cardia before and during dilation, and the possibility of inspecting the cardia for complications immediately after dilation.