Table 2.
Operative details and complications for 162 patients who underwent esophagomyotomy for achalasia at UCSF 1996–2009
| Variable | All 162 patients | 118 patients <60 years | 44 patients ≥60 years | P value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operative details | ||||
| Entirely laparoscopic procedure | 96% | 96% | 97% | 1.00 |
| Esophagomyotomy >6 cm in length | 85% | 82% | 93% | 0.19 |
| Gastric extension >1.5 cm in length | 63% | 63% | 61% | 0.86 |
| Dor (180 degree) fundoplication performed | 97% | 96% | 100% | 0.69 |
| Early complications | ||||
| Interoperative perforation with repair | 5 | 4 | 1 | |
| Perforation with empyema | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Inferior vena cava injury | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Intraoperative pneumothorax | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| Splenic laceration requiring splenectomy | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Pneumonia | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Urinary tract infection | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Urinary retention | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Arrhythmia | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total early complications | 19 | 15 | 4 | 0.90 |
| Late complications | ||||
| Chronic diarrhea | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Delayed gastric emptying | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Barrett’s esophagus or severe esophagitis | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Small bowel obstruction | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total late complications | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0.72 |
* Categorical variables were compared between groups with Fisher’s exact test. Ordinal variables were compared with the Mann–Whitney test