Achalasia Treatment in Turkey
About Achalasia
Key Highlights
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Provides long-term relief from dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).Minimally invasive options (like POEM) reduce recovery time and scarring.Significantly improves quality of life and nutritional intake.Procedures are highly effective, with success rates often exceeding 90%.Can be performed endoscopically, avoiding external incisions.
Who is this surgery for?
- Persistent and progressive difficulty swallowing both solids and liquids (dysphagia).
- Regurgitation of undigested food, especially when lying down.
- Chest pain that is not of cardiac origin, often mimicking heartburn.
- Unintended weight loss due to eating difficulties.
- Confirmed diagnosis via tests like esophageal manometry, barium swallow, or endoscopy showing a dilated esophagus with a "bird's beak" narrowing.
- Failure to respond to non-surgical treatments like pneumatic dilation or botulinum toxin injections.
How to prepare
- Complete a thorough diagnostic workup, including esophageal manometry and endoscopy.
- Discuss all current medications with your doctor; you may need to stop blood thinners.
- Fast for 6-8 hours before the procedure to ensure an empty stomach.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after discharge.
- Undergo pre-operative tests as advised, which may include blood work and an ECG.
- Inform the medical team of any allergies, especially to anesthesia or contrast dye.
Risks & possible complications
- Perforation or tear of the esophageal or stomach lining.
- Bleeding at the surgical site.
- Post-procedure gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Infection, though rare with minimally invasive techniques.
- Adverse reactions to anesthesia.
- Recurrence of symptoms requiring further treatment.
- Potential for subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin) with POEM.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial hospital stay for observation, typically 1-3 days.
- Start with a clear liquid diet, progressing to soft foods over several days to weeks.
- Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for 2-3 weeks.
- Take prescribed medications, which may include pain relievers and acid-suppressing drugs.
- Attend follow-up appointments to monitor healing and swallowing function.
- Report any severe pain, fever, difficulty breathing, or bleeding immediately.
- Full dietary normalization may take a few weeks as swelling subsides.
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Typical hospital stay:
1-3 days
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Expected recovery time:
2-3 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering achalasia in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for achalasia in Turkey include Liv Hospital Ankara, Istinye Üniversitesi Hastanesi Liv, VM Medical Park Pendik Hastanesi, Medical Park Florya, Medical Park Bahçelievler, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform achalasia. MediFyr helps you compare cardiologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for achalasia compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Achalasia in Turkey
These partner hospitals in Turkey have dedicated cardiology teams and experience managing patients undergoing achalasia.
Instabul, Turkey
140 Doctors
Pooja Miller, a 42-year-old high school...
Pooja Miller, a 42-year-old high school biology teacher and mother of two, had been struggling for over a year. Mealtimes, once a joyful family gathering, became a source of dread. She experienced a persistent feeling of food getting stuck in her chest, painful regurgitation of undigested food hours after eating, and significant weight loss. Her chronic cough at night was initially misdiagnosed as reflux. After a barium swallow and esophageal manometry confirmed achalasia, her cardiologist, Dr. Evans, explained that her lower esophageal sphincter failed to relax. He recommended a Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM), a minimally invasive procedure to cut the tight muscle. The procedure itself was under general anesthesia. Waking up, Pooja felt sore but hopeful. Recovery involved a liquid diet progressing to soft foods over several weeks. Six months later, she can eat a normal meal with her family without pain or fear. Emotionally, she journeyed from frustration and isolation, feeling broken by a basic human function, to profound relief and gratitude, reclaiming her joy in cooking and social dining.
Cardiologists for Achalasia
Explore experienced cardiologists who regularly perform achalasia and provide pre- and post-operative care in Turkey.
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