Timed Barium Esophagram: A Better Predictor of Pneumatic Dilation Success in Achalasia Patients?

Pneumatic dilation of the lower esophageal sphincter is the best nonsurgical option for treatment of achalasia. Symptomatic improvement has been reported in 50% to 93% of patients who undergo dilation with the Rigiflex balloon. Although there are other objective measures (esophageal nuclear transit and barium radiography) for assessing effective outcomes, symptomatic improvement has been the primary measure used. Recently however, some have suggested that achalasia patients have altered esophageal sensory responses and that subjective assessment of symptoms might not be reliable. Researchers sought to determine whether barium esophagram is a better predictor of long-term treatment efficacy than is symptom improvement in 32 patients who repo…