Report: Trends of Heller myotomy hospitalizations

[Guest guest]

Here is a study that looks at changes in Heller myotomy treatment from

1993, after lap Heller myotomy was introduced, to 2005. One point of

interest is that it gives an estimate for how many Heller myotomies were

done in the US, 728 in 1993 and 2,255 in 2005. Being that the incidence

rate is 1 new case in 100,000 population per year, 2,255 would be equal

a good portion of those new case. Of course not all of those myotomies

would be on new cases but I find the comparison interesting. I would

think that means that in time most patients eventually have a Heller

myotomy. No surprise there.

Trends of Heller myotomy hospitalizations for achalasia in the United

States, 1993-2005:

effect of surgery volume on perioperative outcomes.

Wang YR, Dempsey DT, Friedenberg FK, Richter JE.

Department of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18684189

" ... a hospital's number of Heller myotomy per year was negatively

associated with length of stay ... and total charges. ... CONCLUSIONS:

On a national level, the introduction of laparoscopic Heller myotomy for

achalasia was associated with greater use of surgery and shorter length

of stay. A larger volume of Heller myotomy in a hospital was associated

with better perioperative outcomes in terms of shorter length of stay

and lower total charges. "

" Lower total charges " should be of interest to insurance companies.

notan