Heller's Cardiomyotomy

Heller’s Cardiomyotomy is operation performed for a condition called Achalasia. In this condition, the muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus (gullet or food pipe) is overly thick and overly tight. This causes patients with this disorder to have problems with eating and drinking normally.

For the procedure Heller’s Cardiomyotomy, the tight muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus is divided, which allows this part of the oesophagus to widen therefore allowing food and fluid to more easily pass into the stomach.

This operation is performed by ‘Keyhole Surgery’.

After surgery almost all patients with this problem will have a very substantial improvement in their swallowing symptoms. This happens very quickly after the operation. Swallowing of food may not return completely to “normal” but food types, the time it takes to eat and the ease with which food can be eaten will all improve.