Oesophagocardiomyotomy for Achalasia Cardia via Thoracotomy in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana: A 5-Year Retrospective Review

Achalasia cardia is a primary oesophageal motility disorder of unknown aetiology characterized manometrically by insufficient relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) and loss of oesophageal peristalsis; radiographically by aperistalsis, oesophageal dilation with minimal LES opening, bird-beak appearance, poor emptying of barium; and endoscopically by dilated oesophagus with retained saliva, liquid and undigested food particles in the absence of mucosal stricturing or tumour. Achalasia cardia patients usually present with difficulty in swallowing both solids and liquids and this may be associated with regurgitation, heartburn and chest pains. Treatment options include medical or pharmacologic therapy, botulinum toxin injection, pneumatic dilation and oesophagocardiomyotomy or the Heller myotomy with or without antireflux procedure and recently the POEM (Perioral oesophageal myotomy). Herein, we present our experience with four cases managed surgically via thoracotomy without antireflux surgery over a 5-year period, from January 2015 to June 2019 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the second largest teaching hospital in Ghana.