Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41653271›Full record

ReviewDigestive diseases and sciences2026

Achalasia in Geriatric Patients: A Comprehensive Overview.

Evgenia Mela, Orestis Lyros, Vasileios Charalampakis, Panagiotis Sakarellos, Adam Mylonakis, Dimitrios Tsapralis, Ioannis Karavokyros, Dimitrios Schizas

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In one paragraph

Review in Digestive diseases and sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Evgenia MelaFirst Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece. vemela@hotmail.gr.
Orestis LyrosThird Department of Surgery, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Vasileios CharalampakisThirteenth Department of Surgery, Henry Dunant Hospital Center, Athens, Greece.
Panagiotis SakarellosFirst Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.
Adam MylonakisFirst Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.
Dimitrios TsapralisDepartment of Surgery, Ierapetra General Hospital, Ierapetra, Greece.
Ioannis KaravokyrosFirst Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.
Dimitrios SchizasFirst Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAchalasia is an uncommon primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and esophageal body peristalsis, with a rising prevalence among the elderly due to global population aging. This review summarizes the current evidence on the clinical presentation, diagnostic algorithm, and management of achalasia in geriatric patients.

methodsA literature search was conducted focusing on age-related differences in symptoms, endoscopic and functional testing, and outcomes of available therapeutic modalities.

resultsClinical presentation of achalasia differs among younger and geriatric patients, with the latter presenting less pronounced symptoms. Geriatric patients experience a higher risk of malnutrition and aspiration and exhibit more often advanced disease stages, including sigmoid esophagus. High-resolution manometry represents the gold standard for diagnosis, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy should precede it in order to exclude causes of mechanical obstruction. The treatment remains non-causative and encompasses botulinum toxin injection, pneumatic dilation, peroral endoscopic myotomy, and laparoscopic Heller's myotomy with fundoplication.

conclusionConsidering the evolving potential of minimally invasive techniques, advanced age should not be regarded as a contraindication for the definitive treatment of achalasia, and evidence-based, age-specific recommendations should be developed for optimizing clinical outcomes.

Indexed as

Esophageal AchalasiaAgedAge FactorsBotulinum ToxinsFundoplicationHeller MyotomyHumansManometryTreatment OutcomeBotulinum ToxinsAchalasiaElderlyEsophagealGeriatricMotility disorders

Identifiers

PMID41653271

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.