Oesophageal Achalasia

This is a disorder of the oesophagus that affects the descent of food into the stomach, due to a lack of the necessary wave-like elasticity of the oesophagus.

The patient is admitted either into a private clinic or a hospital.

Before the operation the patient needs to go to the clinic or hospital a few hours earlier.

A few days earlier the patient attends an appointment for blood samples, examination by the team of any specialties deemed necessary by the anaesthesiologist, as well as by the physiotherapy department.

The average length of stay is about 7-10 days after surgery.

One to three days will be spent in the intensive care unit.

The patient may also be intubated for a few hours after the operation, but there should be no concerns, because the tubes will be removed quickly, if all is well. The patient will be drowsy that evening and therefore will not remember much, including visitors.

For the first week, the patient will be hydrated intravenously.

A nasogastric tube is placed so as to keep the stomach empty.

A chest drainage tube will be placed on the right side of the chest, helping the full expansion and function of the lung, and will be removed on the 5th day after the operation, which is when the integrity of the anastomosis is checked.

Pain is adequately controlled with the help of an epidural, which will remain in place for about 5 days. The above are all removed one by one, depending on the patient’s progress and recovery.

After 5 days, the integrity of the anastomosis is checked by oral administration of a blue dye or a contrast agent together with an X-ray.

Both of these tests allow the surgeon to determine if the anastomosis has adequately healed and that the seal is complete.

If it has sealed, then gradual hydration by mouth begins.

If there is a delay in the healing of the anastomosis then the introduction of fluids and food will be delayed.

The physiotherapist will help every day, and will encourage you to breathe deeply and do coughing exercises, as well as mobilization exercises. This is the most important thing that can be done to speed up recovery and prevent pneumonia.

The sutures are removed when you are discharged, as their removal coincides with complete recovery.