Contributors; Introduction; 1: A One Hundred Year Journey: The History of Surgery for Esophageal Achalasia; Introduction; Early Accounts and First Attempts to Propose a Pathophysiologic Mechanism of an Elusive Disease. The Term: "Achalasia" Is Coined; From Ineffective Esophageal Plications and Retrograde Dilatations to the Successful Cardiomyotomy: The Golden Era of Heller and Zaaijer; Early Attempts to Approach Megaesophagus: The Rise and Fall of Esophagogastrostomy; The Advent of the Partial Fundoplication to Prevent Gastroesophageal Reflux

From Thoracoscopic to Laparoscopic Cardiomyotomy Modern Era: Standardization of the Surgical Technique; Robotic Surgery, Single Site Surgery, and POEM: The Future?; Conclusions; References; 2: Pathophysiology of Achalasia; References; 3: Clinical Presentation and Diagnostic Evaluation; Introduction; Symptom Evaluation; Dysphagia; Regurgitation and Aspiration; Heartburn; Chest Pain; Symptom Scores; Diagnostic Evaluation; Upper Endoscopy; Barium Swallow; Esophageal Manometry; Ambulatory 24-h pH Monitoring; References; 4: Achalasia and Chagas' Disease; Introduction

Clinical Presentation Esophageal Motility; Esophageal Body; Lower Esophageal Sphincter; Esophageal Dilation; Mucosal Abnormalities; Pathology; Diverticulum Formation; Cancer Risk; Treatment; Preoperative Evaluation; Endoscopic Treatment; Dilatation; Botulinum Toxin; Surgical Treatment; Heller's Myotomy; Other Conservative Techniques; Cardioplasty, Vagotomy and Roux-en-Y Gastrectomy; Esophagectomy; Esophageal Mucosectomy and Endomuscular Pull-Through; Conclusions; References; 5: Botulinum Toxin for Achalasia; Introduction; History; Chemistry; Mechanism of Action; Medical Use

Side Effects and Contraindications Method for Treating Achalasia; Clinical Evidence; Which BoNT Patients Do Better?; Summary; References; 6: Pneumatic Dilation; History; Technique of Pneumatic Dilation; Summary of Data Regarding Efficacy; Predictors of Success; Complications; References; 7: Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy; Introduction; Indications; Preoperative Testing; Technique; Post-operative Care; Outcomes; Conclusions; References; 8: Heller Myotomy for Achalasia. From the Thoracoscopic to the Laparoscopic Approach; Introduction; The Open Approach

From the Thoracoscopic to the Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy New Trends in Heller Myotomy; References; 9: Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy and Fundoplication. What Type?; Treatment of Esophageal Achalasia. The Open Era; Treatment of Esophageal Achalasia. The Minimally Invasive Surgery Era; Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy. Is a Fundoplication Necessary?; Which Fundoplication? Partial Versus Total Fundoplication; Partial Fundoplication. Anterior Versus Posterior; Conclusions; References; 10: Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy and Dor Fundoplication; Positioning of the Patient; Placement of the Trocars