Minimally Invasive Procedure Restores Achalasia Patient’s Ability to Keep Food Down

After losing the ability to ingest food and drinks properly, a 31-year-old achalasia patient turned to Keck Medicine of USC gastrointestinal surgery experts to regain nourishment.

By
November 11, 2026
7 min

Keck Medicine of USC

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A 31-year-old man developed frequent regurgitation, heartburn, and difficulty keeping food and drinks down, losing 40 pounds over several months.
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John C. Lipham, MD, diagnosed achalasia, a disorder in which esophageal muscles fail to move food into the stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter remains closed.
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High-resolution esophageal manometry and an endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe were used to assess the patient’s esophageal function.
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Lipham performed a robot-assisted laparoscopic Heller myotomy to loosen the lower esophageal sphincter and a partial fundoplication to help prevent reflux.
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After surgery, the patient reported that food was passing into his stomach, resumed eating solid foods, and regained the weight he had lost.

Minimally Invasive Procedure Restores Achalasia Patient’s Ability to Keep Food Down

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Original Source(s)

Minimally Invasive Procedure Restores Achalasia Patient’s Ability to Keep Food Down

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