Achalasia is a relatively rare condition with an incidence ranging from 0.3 to 1.63 cases per 100,000 people per year in adults [1] [2] [3] . It is characterized by the absence of peristalsis, incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) with an increased resting tone of LES and, sometimes, increased intraesophageal pressure [4] . Pathologic mechanisms of achalasia remain unknown, although various studies have reported that virus, inflammation, and autoimmune mechanisms may affect the neuronal degeneration of esophageal ganglion cells leading to loss of peristalsis and failure of relaxation of the LES, particularly during swallowing [5] [6] . Since etiology remains unknown, treatment aims, therefore, to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

Current therapeutic options include pharmacologic therapy, endoscopic treatment, and surgery. The effectiveness of drug treatment is shorter and the recurrence rate is higher [5] . Long term relief can be obtained in about 90% of cases with either surgical interventions such as laparoscopic Heller myotomy or with endoscopic techniques such as pneumatic dilatation (PD) or, more recently, with per-oral endoscopic myotomy [6] . At present, PD has proven itself to be the most cost-effective treatment for achalasia over a 5 - 10 year period [7] [8] . Several studies suggest that the response to the endoscopic treatment depends on several predictors. The aim of our study was to evaluate endoscopic treatment of esophageal achalasia in the gastroenterology department of the university medical center Hassan II-Fez and identify the predictive factors of endoscopic treatment response.

This is a retrospective analytical study of 78 patients with achalasia managed in the gastroenterology department of the university medical center Hassan II-Fez, during a period of 5 years (January 2009 to December 2014).

During the study period, 78 patients were included. The average age of our patients was 47 years old, with extremes ranging from 18 to 81 years old. The onset of disorders occurred before age 40 for 33% of our patients (n = 26). There was no sex predominance with a sex-ratio M/F of 1.05. The average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis is 6.8 years with extremes ranging from 1 to 30 years. In terms of clinical presentation, dysphagia was the master symptom found in all our patients (n = 78). Weight loss was noted in 85.9% patients (n = 67), regurgitation in 56.4% of cases (n = 44), atypical chest pain in 12.8% patients (n = 10), pyrosis in 16.6% of cases (n = 13), and odynophagia in 20.5% of cases (n = 16). The average of Eckardt score before dilation was 5.9 with extremes ranging from 3 to 9 (Table 1).

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed for all our patients (n = 78). The diagnosis of achalasia was suggested in 70.5% of cases (n = 55). Retained food or saliva was found in 60.2% of cases (n = 47), dilated esophagus in 61.5% of patients (n = 48), Absence of peristalsis in 9% of cases (n = 7), and “pop” opening in 56.4% cases (n = 44). The biopsy was only performed in four patients with esophagitis, it came back normal.

Due to the unavailability, manometry could be performed only in 87.2% of the patients (n = 68). Esophageal aperistalsis was evident in all investigated patients. Incomplete LES relaxation was noted in 55.9% of patients (n = 38). Increased basal LES pressure was observed in 44.1% of cases (n = 30).

A timed barium swallow esophagram (TBA) was performed in 59% of the patients (n = 46). Dilation of the esophagus was assessed in 73.9% of cases (n = 34), a narrow esophagogastric junction (EGJ) with “bird beak” in 43.5% of cases (n = 20), and poor emptying of barium in 45.6% of cases (n = 21) (Table 2).

An average of 1.41 dilation sessions was performed per patient with 85.9% of the initial success rate (n = 67). Initial success without further dilation sessions was achieved in 55.1% of our patients (n = 43). A clinical recurrence with further dilation sessions was received in 30.8% of the cases (n = 24) of whom 83.3% (n = 20) patients required less than 3 sessions with good progression. The average relapse time after first dilation success was 2.7 years, 75% occurs within the first year. Dilation failure was retained in 14 patients (17.9%) requiring surgery. Only six cases of immediate complications were noted, 3 cases of GERD, 2 cases of chest pain with fever, and one post-dilation perforation demanding emergency surgery (Table 3).

We conducted univariate and multivariate analysis in search of endoscopic treatment predictor’s response. Odynophagia (p = 0.063), “pop” opening (p = 0.027), the number of dilation sessions (more than one dilation session) (p =

0.001) were associated with endoscopic treatment failure in univariate study. In multivariate analysis, only odynophagia and the number of dilatation sessions were factors of failure of the endoscopic dilation (Table 4).

Achalasia is a relatively rare condition with an incidence ranging from 0.3 to 1.63 cases per 100,000 people per year in adults [1] [2] [3] [9] . In Morocco, no data are available due to the lack of epidemiological studies. The incidence rate of this pathology seems to be rising [3] [9] [10] , it remains unclear if this reflects a true rise in the incidence or an improved diagnosis [6] .

Most of the studies found no difference in sex distribution [11] [12] [13] [14] . In our series, there was no sex predominance with a sex-ratio M/F at 1.05, comparable to that noted by Raiss’s series [14] and the Iranian series of Yaghoobi [12] , where the sex-ratio M/F was respectively 1.19 and 1.39. The average age of our patients is 47.3 years old, it is higher than that found in the Moroccan series of Raiss, where the average age was estimated to 36 years old [14] . Our data are comparable to those reported by some developing countries [11] and slightly lower than in the European ones [15] .

In our series, the average time between the onset of clinical signs and diagnosis was prolonged than what found in the other series [11] . This delay may be related to the relative severity of the disease, the patient’s adaptation to the symptoms, and inaccessibility to diagnostic means. Dysphagia remains the main symptom in all series and also in our series. The score of Eckardt was at 5.9 in our series comparable to the score noted by Zerbib et al. [15] .

Although manometry remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of primitive esophageal achalasia, EGD should be the first examination performed, because it eliminates an organic cause of dysphagia, such as neoplasia or peptic stenosis. Our study showed that EGD is less efficient than esophageal manometry in achalasia.

Indeed 29.5% of our patients (n = 23), have a normal EGD. These results are similar to the literature data [16] . The National University of Singapore study reported also that 23% of patients have a normal EDG [16] .

A graded dilation protocol starting with a 35 mm balloon three times for 30 seconds in progressive pressure between 5 and 8 psi was performed in our study. Khan et al. concluded by their prospective randomized study that six seconds is largely sufficient to acquire the effect of PD [17] .

PD has proven to be an effective modality for treating achalasia; it allows symptomatic relief while being able to avoid the risks associated with surgery. Pneumatic dilatation with 30, 35 and 40 mm Rigiflex balloons results are good to excellent allowing a symptom relief in 74%, 86% and 90% of patients respectively at 3years follow up [6] . In our series, using a 35 mm balloon, the initial success rate is 85.9% (n = 67), and initial success without further dilation sessions was achieved in 55.1% of our patients (n = 43). Mellow was the first to describe the clinical improvement and return of esophageal peristalsis after dilation [18] . In our series, the symptomatic score of Eckardt has been improved after a dilation session with an average passed from 5.91 to 2.18. This improvement of symptoms is more satisfying in Khan’s work [17] where the Eckardt score went from 4.2 to 0.78. This result is logical, given the delay of diagnosis in developing countries which is responsible for a more marked intensity of symptoms.

Up to one-third of patients have complications after PD, most of them are minor such as bleeding, fever, chest pain, mucosal esophageal hematoma and mucosal tear without perforation [6] . Perforation is, by far, the most serious complication occurring in about 2.0% of patients [19] . Indeed, in our series, one post-dilation perforation requiring emergency surgery was noted (1.3%) [20] .

After univariate and multivariate analysis, there was no statistically significant association between sex, age, and recurrence of achalasia symptoms in our study. On the other hand, Ponce et al. showed in a prospective study of 157 patients, that patients under 20 years of age, and male, did not respond well to PD [20] . An association between odynophagia and recurrence of achalasia (Odds Ratio = 19.19; IC95% [1.39 - 262.8]) was noted in our series. Kostic S et al. reported, whereas, a lack of association between clinical symptoms and recurrence of achalasia [21] . The number of dilations (more than one dilation) is a predictor of endoscopic treatment failure (p = 0.001) in our study. Actually, patients who responded to a single PD session had fewer long-term recurrences than those who required more than one session [21] .

Several limitations of the study deserve to be citedː the first limitation is the fact that is a retrospective study with long recall periods. The second is the limited number of patients due to the rarity of pathology that may influence the statistical strength of data.

Primitive achalasia treatment is based on PD or surgery. PD is a simple, minimally morbid and effective procedure. However, risk factors can make this treatment ineffective. Our work showed that odynophagia, and the number of dilation sessions, are two predictive factors of endoscopic treatment failure.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Meyiz, H., Lamine, A., El Yousfi, M., Aqodad, N., El Abkari, M., Ibrahimi, A., Benajeh, D.A. and Mellouki, I. (2019) Endoscopic Treatment of Esophageal Achalasia: Experience of the Hepato-Gastroenterology Service of Fez. Open Journal of Gastroenterology, 9, 164-173. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojgas.2019.98019