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. 2025 Aug 2;14(15):5448.
doi: 10.3390/jcm14155448.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Achalasia Following Pneumatic Dilation Treatment: A Single Center Experience

Viktorija Sabljić  1 , Dorotea Božić  2 , Damir Aličić  2 , Žarko Ardalić  2 , Ivna Olić  2 , Damir Bonacin  2   3 , Ivan Žaja  2   4
Affiliations

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Achalasia Following Pneumatic Dilation Treatment: A Single Center Experience

Viktorija Sabljić et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Pneumatic dilation (PD) is a widely used treatment modality in the management of achalasia. It is particularly relevant in regions where many centers lack access to advanced therapeutic modalities. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of PD in our local region. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed patients with achalasia that underwent PD from 1/2013 to 12/2019. The diagnosis of achalasia was established on the grounds of clinical symptoms, radiological and endoscopic findings, and esophageal manometry. Data on patient's clinical characteristics, dilation technique and postprocedural follow-up were collected and statistically analyzed. Procedure effectiveness was defined as the postprocedural Eckardt score ≤ 3. Results: PD significantly reduced frequency of dysphagia, regurgitation, and retrosternal pain (p < 0.001). Body-weight increased significantly one month and one year after the procedure (p < 0.001). The procedural success rate was 100%. No severe complications were reported. Conclusions: PD is an effective and safe treatment modality in the management of achalasia. The study limitations include a single center design with the small number of participants, not all of whom underwent manometry, gender disproportion, absence of non-responders, and a short follow-up.

Keywords: achalasia; dysphagia; pneumatic dilation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Changes in Eckardt scores following the PD (N = 23).
Scheme 2
Scheme 2
Graphical illustration of Eckardt score values during the follow-up period.
Scheme 3
Scheme 3
Graphical illustration of the average Eckardt score values in relation to the Chicago classification (N = 13).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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