Berlin, Md. – In a ground-breaking procedure for Atlantic General
Hospital, local gastroenterologist Jerrold Canakis, MD, used Botox injection
– typically thought of as a cosmetic application -- to treat a patient’s
achalasia, a disorder of the esophagus that can make swallowing foods
and liquids difficult or nearly impossible.
Achalasia is a relatively uncommon disorder, which can cause difficulty
swallowing, regurgitation after meals, weight loss, and chest pain. It
is characterized by a loss of the esophagus’s normal smooth muscle
tissue movements that push food from the throat to the stomach and failure
of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. Therefore, food cannot pass
properly into the stomach.
The procedure, which was performed recently on 90-year-old Eastern Shore
resident Elsie Walsh, can be done on an outpatient basis and is relatively
safe. Botox has been used in thousands of patients with ocular and spastic
muscle disorders without serious reactions. Walsh, who has had the procedure
in the past before moving to the area, was happy with the outcome and
felt the effects immediately.
When asked if she was at all apprehensive about the having the procedure,
Walsh said, “There’s a little tension whenever you go to the
hospital, but no. It was good. Dr. Canakis is a very good doctor.”
“There’s a lot of people that could make use of this,”
said Patricia Addy, Walsh’s daughter. “This is such an easy
procedure to have done for people who suffer from [achalasia]. It’s
a lifesaver for our family.”
“Botox injection for the treatment of achalasia is a promising technique
due to its minimally invasive nature, ease of use and lack of morbidity,”
said Canakis. “This technique is probably best used as a temporary
bridge to other therapies or as a primary therapy in patients who cannot
tolerate the potential morbidity of other treatments. I have performed
Botox injections in my career and look forward to providing care for patients
in the community with achalasia who are appropriate candidates.”