Should LES dysfunction be considered as the primary defect?
E.P. Eypasch (Cologne) Full article (members only)

What is the frequency of the progression of DES towards achalasia?
S. Bruley des Varannes, J.P. Galmiche (Nantes), C. Scarpignato (Parma) Full article (members only)

What is the aspect of ganglion cells in the proximal stomach, that is, are the ganglion cells in the cardia in achalasia normal or not?
H.D. Appelman (Ann Arbor) Full article (members only)

Does degeneration of the myenteric plexuses involve the extrinsic nerves of the esophagus?
J. Bancewicz (Salford) Full article (members only)

Are endoscopic biopsies likely to give any useful information in achalasia?
J.R. Goldblum (Cleveland) Full article (members only)

What can be expected from immunohistochemistry in detecting factors responsible for degeneration of myenteric neurons in achalasia?
C. Singaram (Madison) Full article (members only)

Can antibodies reacting with Auerbach's plexuses be demonstrated in achalasia?
W.B. Storch (Heidelberg) Full article (members only)

Should the finding of an antibody against neurons represent an argument for a possible causative factor?
C. Singaram (Madison) Full article (members only)

What are the pathologic features of achalasia taken from esophagectomy specimens in patients with early achalasia?
J.R. Goldblum (Cleveland) Full article (members only)

What specific extra-myenteric histologic features are related to obstruction and stasis in patients with achalasia?
J.R. Goldblum (Cleveland) Full article (members only)

Is synthesis of nitric oxide altered in gastroesophageal junction?
S. Bruley des Varannes, J.P. Galmiche (Nantes), C. Scarpignato (Parma) Full article (members only)

What is the evidence for a viral cause of achalasia?
R.O. Dantas (Rebeirão Preto) Full article (members only)

Is idiopathic achalasia related to genetic markers?
A. Troukhmanov (Moscow) Full article (members only)

What is the histologic natural history of achalasia?
H.D. Appelman (Ann Arbor) Full article (members only)

Functional features

What is the functional value of LES relaxation that can be observed in achalasia?
D. Sifrim, J. Janssens, J. Tack (Leuven) Full article (members only)

Using prolonged motor activity monitoring, what is the proportion of peristaltic esophageal contractions occurring in patients with achalasia?
R.M. Bremner, M. Costantini, T.R. DeMeester (Los Angeles) Full article (members only)

What is the correlation between LES pressure and esophageal emptying?
R.K.H. Wong (Washington) Full article (members only)

What is the rate of GER-related heartburn in patients with achalasia?
P.F. Crookes (Los Angeles) Full article (members only)

What are the features of esophageal dysmotility in children?
J.A. Tovar, G. Prieto, M. Molina, J. Arana (Madrid) Full article (members only)

What is the relationship between pressure or length of the upper esophageal sphincter and aspiration pneumonia?
A. Lambroza (New York) Full article (members only)

Achalasia as part of the Allgrove syndrome
J. Pérez de la Serna, A. Ruiz de León, C. Sevilla-Mantilla, M. Díaz-Rubio (Madrid) Full article (members only)

Pseudo or secondary achalasia

What is pseudoachalasia, what are its causes?
P.J. Kahrilas (Chicago) Full article (members only)

What are the radiographic appearances of secondary achalasia, and how can it be differentiated from primary achalasia in barium studies?
E.M. Smith (Norfolk), T.K. Chaudhuri (Hampton) Full article (members only)

Pseudo or secondary achalasia: can manometric findings differentiate between? Are there specific criteria to distinguish achalasia from underlying malignancy?
R.C. Orlando (New Orleans) Full article (members only)

Can esophageal pharmacomanometry be of clinical use?
T.R. Weihrauch (Wuppertal) Full article (members only)

Is there an explanation for the frequent mid third localization of esophageal carcinomas occurring in patients with achalasia?
R.K.H. Wong (Washington) Full article (members only)

Medical treatments

Is the effect of peripheral opioid agonists (loperamide) on resting LES pressure to be considered in combination with other drugs in achalasia?
R. Penagini (Milan) Full article (members only)

What are the indications for treatment of achalasia with pharmacologic agents?
M. Bortolotti (Bologna) Full article (members only)

What should be expected from endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin into the LES?
P.J. Pasricha (Gavelstone) Full article (members only)

Is there a place for direct endo-electrostimulation in the treatment of achalasia?
A. Troukhmanov (Moscow) Full article (members only)

Dilatations

What are the best markers of the degree of functional obstruction?
K. Bielefeldt (Iowa City) Full article (members only)

What objective variables are to be considered or predictive of symptomatic response to pneumatic dilatations? LES pressure, esophageal emptying? Resistance at the level of the EG junction?
R.K.H. Wong (Washington) Full article (members only)

What is the value of the radiological diameter of the EG junction following dilatation?
D.J. Ott, M.Y.M.Chen (Winston-Salem) Full article (members only)

Is a normal relaxation of the LES a predictive factor of response to pneumatic dilatations?
V. Garrigues, J. Ponce, C. Gálvez, V. Pons (Valencia) Full article (members only)

What is the value of the new controlled radial-expansion variable balloon for dilatation in achalasia?
J.S. Barkin, L. Hurwitz (Miami) Full article (members only)

Is the Witzel dilator under endoscopic vision safer than other dilators?
T.T. Nostrant (Ann Arbor) Full article (members only)

Are there indications for self-expanding stents in achalasia?
R. Lillo-Gil, W. Cwikiel (Lund) Full article (members only)

Are there indications for pneumatic dilatation in young patients?
Should the age of the patient be predictive of non-effective dilatation?
E.H. Metman, L. d'Alteroche, L. Picon (Tours) Full article (members only)

What are the compared effects of dilatation on clinical symptoms, esophageal motility and esophageal diameter?
J.J. Hsu (Rochester, NY) Full article (members only)

Is there a relationship between the size of the dilator, the duration of inflation, the frequency of inflation, and objective changes in esophageal motor function?
J.J. Hsu (Rochester, NY) Full article (members only)

What are the factors that affect the outcome of pneumatic dilatation?
R.K.H. Wong (Washington) Full article (members only)

What is the value of endosonography in assessing the result of pneumatic dilatation?
H. van Overhagen, M.L. Hordijk, G.L. Ong (Rotterdam)  Full article (members only)

How can the frequent lack of correlation between clinical improvement and objective measurements be explained?
E.H. Metman, L. Picon, L. d'Alteroche (Tours) Full article (members only)

Are symptoms correlated to pH-metry findings after dilatation?
J. Pérez de la Serna, A. Ruiz de León, C. Sevilla Mantilla, M. Díaz-Rubio (Madrid) Full article (members only)

When is the best time to perform pH-metry after dilatation?
J. Pérez de la Serna, A. Ruiz de León, C. Sevilla Mantilla, M. Díaz-Rubio (Madrid) Full article (members only)

What is the status of gastric emptying after successful dilatation?
L. Benini, C. Sembenini, I. Vantini (Verona) Full article (members only)

What is the rate of GER after pneumatic dilatation?
C.A. Pellegrini, A. Porter (Seattle), M.G. Patti (San Francisco) Full article (members only)

What are the greatest factors of risk of esophageal perforation in pneumatic dilatation for achalasia? Is the presence of an epiphrenic diverticulum a contraindication to dilatation?
D. Couturier, M. Gaudric (Paris) Full article (members only)

Does a myotomy contraindicate subsequent dilatations?
J. Janssens, J. Tack, D. Sifrim (Leuven) Full article (members only)

Conventional myotomy - Endoscopic myotomy

What precisions concerning the site and length of myotomy could be expected from the present knowledge on the muscular structure of the LES?
D. Liebermann-Meffert, H.J. Stein (Munich) Full article (members only)

What can be expected from new methods of intra-operative manometry to limit the length of associated myectomy? What are its specific indications?
P. Kohek, P. Rehak, G. Glanzer, G.B. Friehs (Graz) Full article (members only)

Is distal extension of myotomy linked with subsequent reflux?
P.E. Donahue (Chicago) Full article (members only)

Should myotomy be extended in "vigorous achalasia"?
L.F. Martinez de Haro, P. Parrilla, A. Ortiz (Murcia) Full article (members only)

Are there specific indications for adding an AR procedure to the myotomy?
A.L. DePaula (Goiana) Full article (members only)

Which AR procedure should be used?
A. Watson (London) Full article (members only)

Are there specific indications for thoracoscopic or laparoscopic myotomy for achalasia?
C.A. Pellegrini, A. Porter (Seattle), M.G. Patti (San Francisco) Full article (members only)

What is the rate of abnormal reflux following thoracoscopic approach?

What are the effects of thoracoscopic myotomy on LES vector volume, compared to open myotomy?
J.H. Peters, P.F. Crookes, T.R. DeMeester (Los Angeles) Full article (members only)

Common problems

What is the nature of the LESP modifications induced by myotomy?
A. Del Genio, G. Izzo, N. Di Martino, V. Maffettone, P. Zampiello, A. Martella, P. Mugione, A. Renzi (Naples) Full article (members only)

Are variations of resting LESP after esophageal and gastric myotomy precisely known?
G.G. Jamieson (Adelaide) Full article (members only)

Compared to open myotomy, what is the rate of abnormal 24-hour acid exposure after endoscopic approach?
J. Heimbucher, K.H. Fuchs, S.M. Freys, A. Thiede (Würzburg) Full article (members only)

Should low esophageal pH after myotomy be unequivocally interpreted as GER?
P.F. Crookes (Los Angeles) Full article (members only)

When fundoplication is added to the myotomy, is there a risk of intra-thoracic migration of the valve after reduction of the esophageal caliber?
I. Cecconello, R.A. Sallum, B. Zilberstein, H.W. Pinotti (Sao Paulo)  Full article  (members only)

What is the effect of myectomy on the pressure profile of the LES?
N. Di Martino, G. Izzo (Naples), C.W.P. Van Der Hoeven (Amsterdam) Full article (members only)

What are the factors involved in the return of peristalsis after surgical myotomy?
L.F. Martínez de Haro, P. Parrilla, A. Ortiz (Murcia) Full article (members only)

What are the comparative long-term results of medical treatment, dilatation, open and minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of achalasia?
M.G. Patti, M. Arcerito, L.W. Way (San Francisco) Full article (members only)

What are the late results of myotomy in children?
N.A. Myers, R. Taylor (Victoria), S.G. Jolley (Las Vegas) Full article (members only)

What is the rate of late strictures following myotomy?

What are their causes?
C.A. Pellegrini, A. Porter (Seattle), M.G. Patti (San Francisco) Full article (members only)

Are the results of myotomy altered by previous dilatations?
J.C. Chiocca, G.B. Salis (Buenos Aires) Full article (members only)
A. Csendes (Santiago) Full article (members only)