Living with Achalasia Cardia can be deeply challenging, turning the essential act of eating into a source of discomfort, pain, and anxiety. If swallowing has become difficult, if you experience chest pain after meals, regurgitation, or unexplained weight loss, please know you are not alone—effective help is available.
At Precision Upper GI Surgery, I specialise in diagnosing and treating Achalasia Cardia with leading expertise, advanced technology, and genuine compassion. My commitment is to guide you towards lasting relief and a significantly improved quality of life.
Achalasia Cardia is a rare disorder affecting the oesophagus—the muscular tube carrying food from your throat to your stomach. In individuals with Achalasia, the crucial muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus (the lower oesophageal sphincter or LES) fails to relax properly to let food pass into the stomach. Furthermore, the coordinated muscle contractions (peristalsis) that normally propel food down the oesophagus are often weak or absent. Understanding the specifics of your condition is the vital first step towards managing it effectively.
Ignoring Achalasia symptoms or delaying treatment can lead to significant health complications, including malnutrition, substantial weight loss, dangerous aspiration (inhaling food or liquid into the lungs), and a progressive enlargement of the oesophagus (megaoesophagus). Seeking a timely diagnosis and treatment from specialists experienced in oesophageal motility disorders like Achalasia is essential—not just for relieving your current symptoms but for preventing serious long-term health consequences.
While there isn’t yet a cure for the underlying nerve damage in Achalasia, highly effective treatments are available to manage symptoms dramatically and improve your ability to eat and drink comfortably. As a specialist, I am skilled in the latest, evidence-based therapeutic approaches, offering solutions tailored to you:
A non-surgical, endoscopic procedure where a specialised balloon is inflated within the tight lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) to gently stretch and open it, improving food passage.
A minimally invasive surgical procedure where small incisions are made in the abdomen, and the outer muscle fibres of the tight LES are cut (myotomy) to relieve the blockage permanently.
An endoscopic treatment involving injecting Botox directly into the LES muscle to help it relax temporarily, typically considered for patients who may not be suitable candidates for dilatation or surgery.
I will discuss the specific risks, benefits, and expected outcomes of each option with you in detail, empowering you to make a fully informed decision about the best path forward for your health and quality of life.
Managing a complex motility disorder like Achalasia requires a structured approach within a supportive clinical environment. From your initial referral to Precision Upper GI Surgery, my practice prioritises:
Allocating ample time to discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, answer your questions, and alleviate your concerns.
Ensuring seamless collaboration between diagnostic teams, physician specialists, nursing staff, and administrative support for an efficient experience.
Providing clear explanations, resources, and information to help you feel knowledgeable and confident throughout your treatment journey.
Monitoring your progress after treatment and adjusting your care plan as needed to ensure optimal, long-term symptom relief and well-being.
Explaining what to expect during diagnostic tests, before and after procedures, and during recovery.
Allocating ample time to discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, answer your questions, and alleviate your concerns.
Ensuring seamless collaboration between diagnostic teams, physician specialists, nursing staff, and administrative support for an efficient experience.
Providing clear explanations, resources, and information to help you feel knowledgeable and confident throughout your treatment journey.
Monitoring your progress after treatment and adjusting your care plan as needed to ensure optimal, long-term symptom relief and well-being.
Explaining what to expect during diagnostic tests, before and after procedures, and during recovery.
Selecting the right care is crucial. Patients choose Precision Upper GI Surgery because I offer:
Direct access to a physician with deep, specialised experience in diagnosing and managing Achalasia Cardia effectively.
Comprehensive therapies, including minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques like LHM and POEM.
Treatment plans meticulously designed around your unique diagnosis, needs, and life circumstances.
My primary goal is achieving significant, durable relief from your symptoms, allowing you to eat comfortably again.
Delivering state-of-the-art medical care with the empathy, understanding, and respect you deserve.
Direct access to a physician with deep, specialised experience in diagnosing and managing Achalasia Cardia effectively.
Comprehensive therapies, including minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques like LHM and POEM.
Treatment plans meticulously designed around your unique diagnosis, needs, and life circumstances.
My primary goal is achieving significant, durable relief from your symptoms, allowing you to eat comfortably again.
Delivering state-of-the-art medical care with the empathy, understanding, and respect you deserve.
Early symptoms often include difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) for both solids and liquids, regurgitation of undigested food, chest pain or discomfort, and unexplained weight loss.
Diagnosing Achalasia typically involves several tests, including oesophageal manometry (to measure muscle contractions), barium swallow studies (X-rays that show how barium moves down the oesophagus), and endoscopy (visual examination of the oesophagus).
The “best” treatment varies depending on the individual patient’s age, overall health, and the severity of their condition. Treatment options include non-surgical methods like pneumatic dilation and Botox injections, and minimally invasive surgical procedures like Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy (LHM) and Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM). Your specialist will discuss which option is most suitable for you.
Currently, there isn’t a cure for the underlying nerve damage that causes Achalasia. However, available treatments are highly effective at managing symptoms, improving swallowing function, and significantly enhancing quality of life.
Achalasia is believed to be caused by damage to the nerves in the oesophagus that coordinate swallowing. This damage prevents the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) from relaxing properly and impairs the muscle contractions (peristalsis) that move food down. The exact reason for this nerve damage is often unknown, but it may be related to viral infections or autoimmune responses.
Recovery time varies depending on the type of treatment. Non-surgical options like pneumatic dilation or Botox injections typically have shorter recovery periods. Minimally invasive surgical procedures like POEM and Heller Myotomy generally involve a few days in the hospital and a recovery period of a few weeks before returning to normal activities. Your doctor will provide specific post-treatment care instructions and expectations.
Delaying treatment for Achalasia can lead to worsening symptoms, significant weight loss, malnutrition, aspiration (inhaling food into the lungs), and a progressive enlargement of the oesophagus (megaoesophagus). Timely treatment is crucial to prevent these complications and improve your quality of life.
Don’t let Achalasia dictate how you live, eat, and feel. Take the first, most important step towards comfortable eating and reclaiming your health.
Precision Upper GI Surgery, your trusted provider for Upper GI procedures in Sydney, NSW. Led by Dr Manju, our team is dedicated to offering a range of services to support patients’ journey towards excellent health.
Bankstown Hospital Medical Centre
Suite 101, 68 Eldridge Road
Bankstown, NSW 2200
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 17:00
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