Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder involving aberrant peristalsis and insufficient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The characteristic symptoms include dysphagia, regurgitation, occasional chest pain with or without weight loss. The American College of Gastroenterology has framed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Achalasia . These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, grading, assessment, pharmacotherapy, and management of disease recurrence.
In this article, we provide a summary of these guidelines. Diagnosis The presenting symptoms in achalasia patients are often similar to that of gastroesophageal reflux disease, increasing the chances of misdiagnosis. This can lead to delayed diagnosis of achalasia at the worst stage. Patients having suspected GERD who do not respond to acid-suppressive treatment should be screened for…
