Conversation between doctors about dilation vs myotomy

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Subject line says it all:

Pneumodilation versus Laparoscopic Heller's Myotomy for Achalasia

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1106642

The discussion was in response to the publication in May of:

Pneumatic dilation versus laparoscopic Heller's myotomy for idiopathic

achalasia.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21561346?dopt=Abstract

Full article here:

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1010502#t=articleTop

" Conclusions: After 2 years of follow-up, LHM, as compared with

pneumatic dilation, was not associated with superior rates of

therapeutic success. "

It should be noted that the dilation they refer to is not necessarily a

single dilation but may have required three separate sessions before

being successful and the follow-up is not long-term.

notan