The Authors report their experience on 76 patients managed for oesophageal achalasia from 1973-1997. 65 patients have been surgically treated with Heller miotomy (19 cases) or miotomy with antireflux procedures (46 cases); 11 patients underwent an endoscopic pneumatic dilation. 54 patients, 43 surgically and 11 endoscopically treated, have been followed for a mean length of time of 6 years and 6 months. Complete cure or significant improvement of symptoms have been noted in 86% and 72.7% of patients treated respectively with surgery or pneumatic dilatation. The results have been evaluated according to the recent data from the literature and diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of primitive achalasia are discussed.