BACKGROUND: The best option for the treatment of patients with achalasia and recurrent symptoms after previous treatment, has always been very controversial. In literature review, there is no surgical technique considered the best to deal with this condition. The idea to use a more selective treatment with transmediastinal esophagectomy without thoracotomy in patients with advanced megaesophagus in relapsed cases after prior cardiomyotomy can be considered. AIM: To evaluate the results of transmediastinal esophagectomy in recurrent megaesophagus regarding local and systemic complications. METHODS: Thrity two patients were treated with recurrent symptoms after previous surgery to achalasia and indication for esophagectomy with gastric transmediastinal transposition through the posterior mediastinum for grade IV megaesophagus. They were 25 men (78.1%) and seven women (21.9%), aged from 34 to 72 years. All underwent previous myotomy varying from five to 39 years to the day of transmediastinal esophagectomy. RESULTS: Some patients had complications. Among these, eight had pulmonary infection (25.0%) resulting in good outcome to the specific clinical treatment; two died due to hemodynamic effect caused by injury to the azygos vein and the other due to trachea injury; nine (28.1% ) had cervical esophagogastric anastomotic dehiscence doing well with conservative treatment. Of the 21 patients in whom monitoring was carried out in the long term - six months to 14 years -, 17 reported good swallowing solids and pastes, four (19.0%) had gastroesophageal reflux with clinical improvement with specific medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Transmediastinal esophagectomy, although providing adequate swallowing in most cases, is a procedure of high morbidity. This technique should not be recommended as first treatment option for relapsed megaesophagus.
Esophagectomy; Esophageal ahalasia
