Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Achalasia: Nice, but Necessary?

Although POEM resulted in positive short-term outcomes, long-term follow-up studies are needed to compare its effectiveness with pneumatic dilation and laparoscopic Heller myotomy.

Achalasia, a chronic, progressive, benign disease, causes severe morbidity and is difficult to manage. Treatment strategies vary widely in the absence of definitive data from randomized, controlled trials. The current prospective clinical study assessed the feasibility and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a minimally invasive endoscopic surgical procedure.

Investigators described immediate postprocedural outcomes of POEM in 16 patients and assessed dysphagia symptoms (primary outcome) at 3-month follow-up and quality of life at 6-month follow-up. The procedure consisted of a submucosal injection, followed by a mucosal incision made 15 cm above the esophageal gastric junction (EGJ), and the creation of a submucosal tunnel extendin…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors