Achalasia in Dallas, TX

Achalasia is sometimes misdiagnosed or overlooked because its symptoms mirror those of other GI issues. However, our team at Digestive Health Associates of Texas is trained to identify and treat achalasia. To test for this condition, we may perform one of three tests.

• Esophageal manometry: This tests for muscle contractions in the esophagus when you swallow and identifies how well the lower esophageal sphincter opens and relaxes when you swallow.
• Esophagram: This is an x-ray of the upper digestive system that allows up to see a silhouette of your esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine that will help us identify any issues.
• Upper GI endoscopy: During this procedure, we insert a thin, pliable tube through your throat into the esophagus so we can look for blockages and more.

When treating achalasia, we will always attempt to find a nonsurgical treatment. For many of our Dallas, TX patients, we can perform a pneumatic dilation, which is when a balloon is inserted into the esophageal sphincter and inflated to help enlarge the opening. This is an outpatient procedure using sedation that can be performed relatively quickly. However, it may be necessary to have the procedure repeated within five years or so.

Another treatment option could include BOTOX®. BOTOX is a muscle relaxant that can be injected into the esophageal sphincter to help relax the muscles. This procedure will typically need to be repeated about every six months and is often only suggested for patients who do not qualify for pneumatic dilation.

Alternatively, there are medications and surgical options available, but these often aren't suggested unless pneumatic dilation or BOTOX are unsuccessful. Our skilled team can help you decipher which treatment method is right for you.