Rarity of Hiatus Hernia in Achalasia

Abstract

ACHALASIA and hiatus hernia are not often found in the same patient. The rarity of this association has been commented upon very briefly by several physicians,^{1 2 3 4} but nowhere has the problem been analyzed systematically. It is not clear whether anything inherent in achalasia prevents the occurrence of a hiatus hernia. For these reasons we have reviewed a series of patients with achalasia, specifically looking for radiologic evidence of a hiatus hernia.MaterialThe records of all patients with a diagnosis of achalasia at the Grace—New Haven Community Hospital and at the West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital between September, 1953, and . . .