Surgical treatment for nonspecific esophageal motility disorders

Purpose Nonspecific esophageal motility disorder (NEMD) is a vague category that includes patients with poorly defined contraction abnormalities observed during esophageal manometry. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approach using long myotomy and fundopexy for NEMD. Methods The VATS approach using myotomy and fundopexy was performed for 4 patients of NEMD between 2005 and 2008. A total of 4 patients with NEMD that underwent treatment at our institution were analyzed retrospectively. Results The patients included 2 males and 2 females with a median age of 48 years (range 21–74 years). The median duration of NEMD symptoms was 58 months (range 4–108 months). Dysphagia was a primary symptom in all patients. Chest pain was a primary symptom in 3 of 4 patients (75 %). Treatment with medication was attempted before the operation. The median operative time was 344.5 min (range 210–476 min). The median time before starting oral feeding was 2.5 days (range 2–22 days). All patients achieved a significant improvement of their previous condition. Conclusions The VATS approach using myotomy and fundopexy for NEMD is a good treatment in cases resistant to medication and balloon dilation.