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A Heller myotomy is surgery to treat achalasia, a condition that makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass from the esophagus into the stomach. The surgeon cuts muscle fibers at the lower end of the esophagus to help that area open. The procedure is usually performed through small abdominal incisions. A partial fundoplication may be added to reduce acid reflux after surgery.
read more about heller myotomy ...In achalasia, the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax properly during swallowing. Food and liquid can remain in the esophagus, causing trouble swallowing, regurgitation, or weight loss. Heller myotomy reduces the muscle barrier at the entrance to the stomach. The care team considers symptoms, test results, and other treatment options before recommending surgery.
Under general anesthesia, the surgeon inserts a camera and instruments through small abdominal incisions. The surgeon divides muscle along the lower esophagus and across the lower esophageal sphincter. A portion of the stomach may then be wrapped partly around the esophagus in a fundoplication. This added step helps limit reflux after the muscle has been opened.
Patients are usually monitored in the hospital after surgery. The care team gradually advances food from liquids to soft foods while the esophagus heals. Incision soreness and temporary difficulty with certain foods can occur. The surgeon provides a specific eating plan and instructions for returning to daily activities.
Risks include bleeding, infection, and injury to the lining of the esophagus. Acid reflux can develop after surgery, even when fundoplication is performed. Swallowing usually improves, but achalasia is not cured and symptoms may return. Persistent trouble swallowing or an inability to swallow liquids requires medical assessment.
No. It can relieve swallowing symptoms for a long time, but achalasia remains and symptoms can return.
Cutting the lower esophageal muscle can make acid reflux more likely. A partial fundoplication helps reduce that risk.
No. It is usually performed through small abdominal incisions; a different procedure called POEM reaches the esophageal muscle through the mouth.
Usually not. The care team starts with liquids and gradually introduces softer foods according to its postoperative plan.
Heller Myotomy. Northwestern Medicine. https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/treatments/heller-myotomy. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Heller Myotomy. UCSF Department of Surgery. https://surgery.ucsf.edu/procedure/heller-myotomy. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Heller Myotomy. Duke Health. https://www.dukehealth.org/treatments/digestive-disorders/heller-myotomy. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Heller Myotomy for Achalasia. Washington University in St. Louis, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. https://cardiothoracicsurgery.wustl.edu/patient-care/thoracic/benign-esophageal-disease/heller-myotomy-for-achalasia/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Heller Myotomy: What It Treats, Surgery Steps & Recovery. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/heller-myotomy. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.