Project description:Background and aimsDefinitive treatment options for refractory dysphagia due to cricopharyngeal bar are limited. We aimed to demonstrate a novel adaptation of peroral endoscopic myotomy to treat this condition (cricopharyngeal peroral endoscopic myotomy [c-POEM]).MethodsThe approach to c-POEM is similar to that in the distal esophagus for the treatment of achalasia. A submucosal injection and overlying mucosal incision are performed, ideally 1.5 to 2 cm upstream of the upper esophageal sphincter, and then a submucosal tunnel is extended beyond the level of the cricopharyngeus. The target muscle is then transected before closure of the mucosotomy.ResultsIn 3 cases of refractory cricopharyngeal bar, c-POEM was successfully performed. Although no major adverse events occurred, significant postprocedural edema at the level of the upper esophageal sphincter prolonged hospitalization in 2 of the 3 patients. After recovery, all patients reported complete resolution of dysphagia and tolerated an unrestricted diet.ConclusionsC-POEM allows reliable and complete muscular division in patients with refractory cricopharyngeal bar who have limited treatment options.
Project description:Although peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is being performed more frequently, the learning curve for gastroenterologists performing the procedure has not been well studied. The aims of this study were to define the learning curve for POEM and determine which preoperative and intraoperative factors predict the time that will be taken to complete the procedure and its different steps.Consecutive patients who underwent POEM performed by a single expert gastroenterologist for the treatment of achalasia or spastic esophageal disorders were included. The POEM procedure was divided into four steps: mucosal entry, submucosal tunneling, myotomy, and closure. Nonlinear regression was used to determine the POEM learning plateau and calculate the learning rate.A total of 60 consecutive patients underwent POEM in an endoscopy suite. The median length of procedure (LOP) was 88 minutes (range 36 - 210), and the mean (± standard deviation [SD]) LOP per centimeter of myotomy was 9 ± 5 minutes. The total operative time decreased significantly as experience increased (P < 0.001), with a "learning plateau" at 102 minutes and a "learning rate" of 13 cases. The mucosal entry, tunneling, and closure times decreased significantly with experience (P < 0.001). The myotomy time showed no significant decrease with experience (P = 0.35). When the mean (± SD) total procedure times for the learning phase and the corresponding comparator groups were compared, a statistically significant difference was observed between procedures 11 - 15 and procedures 16 - 20 (15.5 ± 2.4 min/cm and 10.1 ± 2.7 min/cm, P = 0.01) but not thereafter. A higher case number was significantly associated with a decreased LOP (P < 0.001).In this single-center retrospective study, the minimum threshold number of cases required for an expert interventional endoscopist performing POEM to reach a plateau approached 13.
Project description:Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been recently considered as the first treatment option for achalasia. The standard POEM procedures are often successful in most patients, but sometimes technical challenges are encountered. We report a new technique that is divided between two tunneling sites in the esophagus for sigmoid-type achalasia. A 40-year-old male patient with dysphagia for 10 years was diagnosed with a sigmoid-shaped esophagus at our hospital. We devised a two-stage myotomy technique to treat sigmoidtype achalasia. The myotomy was first performed in the upper part of the greater flexion area and then in the lower part of the flexion. We termed this method "two-stage POEM", which was successfully performed without any complications. This new POEM method can also be used to improve symptoms in patients with achalasia who have a structural deformity that may result in a high change of treatment failure.
Project description:Background and study aims? Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is a rare esophageal dysmotility disease that is characterized by elevated integrated relaxation pressuse (IRP) with evidence of preserved peristalsis. The role of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in management of EGJOO is currently unknown. Patients and methods? This is a prospective trial conducted in a single US tertiary care center from June 2015 to June 2019.?Symptomatic patients, diagnosed with EGJOO on both HRM and endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP), who were eligible for POEM were recruited. Primary outcome was clinical success, defined as Eckardt score (ES) ??3, at 6 months post-POEM. Other outcomes included dysphagia score, quality of life as measured by 36-item Short Form health survey scales (SF-36), post-POEM HRM, EndoFLIP, and pH measurements, and adverse events. Results? A total of 15 patients (51.8 yr. 9 F) with EGJOO underwent POEM. Pre-POEM mean IRP on HRM and Distensibility index (DI) on EndoFLIP were 24.3?±?2.2?mmHg and 1.1?±?0.6?mm 2 /mmHg, respectively. Clinical success was achieved in 93?% at 6 months post-POEM. There was significant decrease in IRP (-17.6?mmHg) post-POEM. There was significant improvement at 6 months in two of the SF-36 subscales. Ten patients underwent post-POEM pH testing, seven of whom had abnormal DeMeester score. Seven patients underwent EGD evaluation revealing esophagitis in five (2 Los Angeles grade A and 3 grade B). Conclusions? POEM offers a high clinical success rate for patients with EGJOO confirmed by impedance planimetry.
Project description:This paper presented a case of esophageal achalasia treated by peroral endoscopic myotomy with HybridKnife and discuss the feasibility and the possible advantages of using it.
Project description:Background and Aims:Gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (GPOEM) is a promising treatment for refractory gastroparesis. Initially, endoscopists performed GPOEM along the greater curve of the stomach. We, herein, present a novel modification with a lesser curve approach that offers the advantages of shorter tunnel and possibly better myotomy. Methods:Three patients with refractory gastroparesis underwent GPOEM by use of the lesser curve approach. Two of the patients had a prior GPOEM by the traditional greater curve approach. All procedures were performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The specific tools used for incision, dissection, and myotomy are described. The patients were followed up closely, and the gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) was calculated before, and 4 weeks after, the procedure. Results:The pyloric ring was exposed very well with the lesser curve approach. The mean procedure time was 48 ± 12 minutes. No immediate or late adverse events were observed. All patients had significant improvement in the GCSI 4 weeks after GPOEM, with resolution of gastroparesis symptoms. The mean follow-up time was 6 months. Conclusion:The lesser curve approach to GPOEM provides an excellent exposure to the pyloric ring and can be used as a primary or a salvage technique for the treatment of refractory gastroparesis.
Project description:Background/aimsSeveral studies have reported partial recovery of peristalsis in patients with achalasia after myotomy. The aim of our study is to analyze esophageal motility patterns after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and to assess the potential predictors and clinical impact of peristaltic recovery.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients with achalasia undergoing POEM at a tertiary center. High-resolution manometry (HRM) studies prior to and after POEM were reviewed and the Chicago classification was applied.ResultsA total of 237 patients were analyzed. The initial HRM diagnoses were achalasia type I, 42 (17.7%); type II, 173 (73.0%); and type III, 22 (9.3%). Before POEM, peristaltic fragments were present in 23 (9.7%) patients. After POEM the Chicago classification diagnoses were: 112 absent contractility, 42 type I achalasia, 15 type II, 11 type III, 26 ineffective esophageal motility, 18 esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, 10 fragmented peristalsis, and 3 distal esophageal spasm. Altogether 68 patients (28.7%) had signs of contractile activity, but the contractions newly appeared in 47 patients (47/214, 22.0%). Type II achalasia showed a trend for appearance of contractions (P = 0.097). Logistic regression analysis did not identify any predictors of peristaltic recovery. The post-POEM Eckardt score did not differ between patients with and without contractions nor did the parameters of timed barium esophagogram.ConclusionsMore than 20% of achalasia patients have signs of partial recovery of esophageal peristalsis after POEM. It occurs predominantly in type II achalasia but the clinical relevance seems to be negligible.