Achalasia

Specializing in a Rare Esophageal Condition

Achalasia is a rare disorder — only about 2,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with it each year. Because the condition is so rare, it’s helpful to choose a medical center with experience diagnosing and treating this disorder and other esophageal conditions. With comprehensive services and experts focused specifically on problems of the esophagus, the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Esophageal Diseases is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat achalasia.

What is Achalasia?

Achalasia is an esophageal disorder that makes it difficult to swallow solids and liquids. About 70 percent of patients with achalasia also experience regurgitation (backflow) of food.

Heartburn and chest pain also may be present with achalasia. Although it can develop in children and adults, this condition occurs most often in middle-age adults or older adults. Achalasia occurs when the esophageal sphincter muscle (located between the esophagus and the stomach) doesn’t relax as much as it should, making it hard for food to pass from the esophagus into the stomach. The cause of this disease is not known.

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis is the first step toward appropriate and effective treatment. Physicians at UChicago Medicine may recommend several tests to determine the exact nature of the problem and to rule out the presence of esophageal cancer. Diagnostic testing may include:

Endoscopy: Insertion of a thin, flexible tube down the throat, through the esophagus and into the stomach. The endoscope is equipped with a tiny camera that enables the physician to see inside the esophagus and other organs. This test is important to make sure cancer is not present.
Manometry: A manometry study measures the strength and coordination of the muscles in the esophagus and evaluates the function and relaxation of the valve (lower esophageal sphincter) located between the esophagus and the stomach. During the procedure, a very thin tube is passed through the nose and down to the stomach to examine esophageal muscle function.
X-ray: Imaging of the chest and upper GI tract.

Treatment

UChicago Medicine offers several treatment options for achalasia, including:

Botulin toxin (Botox) injections: Botox injections to paralyze the sphincter muscle and prevent muscle spasms.
Endoscopic dilation: A procedure to widen the lower esophagus.
Laparoscopic esophageal myotomy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure to decrease the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle and make it easier to swallow. Working through several small incisions, the surgeon severs muscles of the valve located between the esophagus and stomach, making it easier for food to pass through.
Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM): An incisionless surgical procedure performed by a specialist in interventional endoscopy. After placing a flexible scope through the mouth and into the patient’s esophagus, the physician creates a tunnel between the layers of the esophagus to reach the lower sphincter muscle. The muscles are then cut, permanently opening the valve.

Oral medications are not effective for treating achalasia.

Research & Clinical Trials

Our goal is to offer patients the most advanced treatment options available. Our team is involved in esophageal disease research and clinical trials to continue offering patients the best care. All patients are checked regularly to assess long-term results. We maintain data on patients’ progress in a database. By tracking patients’ results over the long term, we can perform studies on clinical outcomes to verify the effectiveness and durability of interventions. Results are reported regularly in scientific journals so that the medical community and patients can be aware of the alternatives, benefits and risks of each procedure.

Request an Appointment

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You can also make an appointment with our providers by:

– Scheduling a virtual video visit to see a provider from the comfort of your home

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To speak to someone directly, please call 1-888-824-0200. If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

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Eating Again After Achalasia

Eating and drinking became increasingly difficult for Dorian Brantley. Gastroenterologists diagnosed achalasia — a rare digestive disorder that affects the muscles between the esophagus and the stomach. Brantley had a peroral endoscopic myotomy to correct the problem. Now, she is back to enjoying all her favorite foods again.

Read Dorian's Story