Myotomy

Myotomy is referred to a surgical procedure which is characterized by cutting of a muscle. The most common example of myotomy is a procedure called Heller myotomy, which is a procedure used to treat a medical condition termed as achalasia. Achalasia is characterized by incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter or cardia creating problems with swallowing of both liquid and solid foods. The procedure is done laparoscopically under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter are cut, thereby, allowing the foods to pass through the sphincter to the stomach. Under normal circumstances with no complications patients can start taking liquid diet on the same day of the surgery and solid diet after 2-3 days. The patient is discharged from the hospital after two to three days and can return to work within a week?s time. However, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least eight weeks after the surgery is performed.

Stomach

The stomach is a muscular sac that lies between the esophagus and the small intestine in the upper abdomen. The stomach is not the only part of your digestive system that absorbs food but rather is a part of the digestive system and important for churning food into a consistency that is easier to digest for the rest of your intestines.

Paraesophageal

The hiatus is a normal opening in the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen which moves up and down with breathing. Although the hiatus is a normal opening, there are occasions when this opening enlarges and the stomach or other organs can slip up inside the chest. This occasion of an abnormally large opening of the hiatus is called a hiatal hernia. Paraesophageal hernias account for only 5% of all hiatal hernias. A paraesophageal hernia is a type of hiatal hernia where the junction of the stomach and the esophagus remains in place, but part of the stomach is squeezed up into the chest beside the esophagus.

Diaphragmatic hernia being laparoscopic sutured

Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

The esophagus is a relatively simple organ but it does have several locations where problems are more likely. The most problematic area is at the bottom (technically, in the lower thoracic section) where the esophagus connects with the stomach – the gastroesophageal junction. At the junction is the lower gastroesophageal sphincter, a hole into the stomach controlled by a set of muscles that opens to allow food to enter the stomach, and closes to prevent stomach acid from entering the esophagus. When this sphincter is not functioning properly, especially as a chronic long-term condition, there are many potential problems, some of which may lead to cancer.