Tratamiento quirúrgico de la acalasia esofágica: Experiencia en 328 pacientes

background: patients with achalasia may require surgical treatment. aim: to assess postoperative evolution, complications and mortality after surgical treatment of achalasia. material and methods: analysis of 328 patients aged 13 to 80 years (51% females) with achalasia, operated in a period of 40 years. open surgery was used in 165 patients and a laparoscopic modality (starting in 1994) in 163. results: patients subjected to open or laparoscopic surgery had similar demographic and manometric features. mucosal injury during myotomy occurred in 20 (12%) and 10 (6%) of patients subjected to open or laparoscopic surgery, respectively (p < 0.05). four patients operated using a laparoscopic approach had to be converted to open surgery. two patients operated using an open approach had a postoperative leak. one patient had an abscess and one a hemoperitoneum. conclusions: the surgical approach of choice for achalasia is laparoscopic, with a low incidence of complications.