Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2006; 12(31): 5087-5090
Published online Aug 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i31.5087
Pseudoachalasia in a patient after truncal vagotomy surgery successfully treated by subsequent pneumatic dilations
Seng-Kee Chuah, Chung-Mou Kuo, Keng-Liang Wu, Chi-Sin Changchien, Tsung-Hui Hu, Chi-Chih Wang, Yi-Chun Chiu, Yeh-Pin Chou, Pin-I Hsu, King-Wah Chiu, Chung-Huang Kuo, Shue-Shian Chiou, Chuan-Mo Lee
Seng-Kee Chuah, Chung-Mou Kuo, Keng-Liang Wu, Chi-Sin Changchien, Tsung-Hui Hu, Yi-Chun Chiu, King-Wah Chiu, Chung-Huang Kuo, Shue-Shian Chiou, Chuan-Mo Lee, Gastrointestinal Motility Unit, Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China
Chi-Chih Wang, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China
Pin-I Hsu, Kaohsiung Veteran General Hospital, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Chi-Sin Changchien, MD, Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaoshiung, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, ROC 833, Taiwan, China. paulchuah@hotmail.com
Telephone: +886-7-7317123-8301 Fax: +886-7-7322402
Received: April 28, 2006
Revised: June 10, 2006
Accepted: June 15, 2006
Published online: August 21, 2006
Abstract

Pseudoachalasia is a difficult condition for the clinician to differentiate from idiopathic achalasia even by manometry, radiological studies or endoscopy. Its etiology is usually associated with tumors. In most cases, the diagnosis is made after surgical explorations. The proposed pathogenesis of the disease is considered as mechanical obstruction of the distal esophagus or infiltration of the malignancy that affects the inhibitory neurons of the meyenteric plexus in the majority of cases. Surgery has been reported as a cause of pseudoachalasia. We report a 70-year-old man who suffered from deglutination disorder caused by pseudo-achalasia after truncal vagotomy. The patient was symptom-free after a nine-year follow-up and complete recovery of esophageal motility status from pseudoachalasia after pneumatic dilations. We also reviewed the literature of pseudoachalasia.

Keywords: Truncal vagotomy; Pseudo-achalasia; Deglutination disorder; Pneumatic dilations; Sustain reversed esophageal motility