Treatment of achalasia with a pneumatic dilator attached to a gastroscope.

A pneumatic dilator for the treatment of achalasia of the esophagus is described. An inflatable polyurethane balloon assembly is attached to a small-caliber forward-viewing fiber-optic gastroscope. The balloon is introduced and dilatation carried out under endoscopic visual control. The described method greatly increases the safety and accuracy of the dilatation procedure, even in patients with an extreme degree of megaesophagus. 39 patients have been successfully treated with the dilator with no complications.