Transesophageal endoscopic myotomy for achalasia: recognizing potential pitfalls before clinical application

Background

Laparoscopic Heller esophagomyotomy is the standard of care for achalasia treatment. This procedure, although effective, must be performed with the patient under general anesthesia and is associated with several serious potential complications. The authors aimed to develop a method of performing transesophageal endoscopic esophagomyotomy (TEEM) that would obviate the need for both general anesthesia and external incisions while offering lower intra- and postoperative complications.

Methods

The TEEM procedure was performed on eight pigs. For six of the pigs, the procedure aimed at survival. A mid-esophageal mucosal incision was performed using an endoscope, and a submucosal plane was developed. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle fibers were clearly visualized and divided. The mucosal incision was closed using fibrin sealant. After 2?weeks of survival, a gastrografin swallow study and necropsy were performed.

Results

The TEEM procedure was performed successfully in all eight porcine models. The myotomy included the LES fibers and extended 4 to 6?cm proximally to the esophagus. The proximal gastric muscle was divided up to 1 to 2?cm. No injuries to the abdominal or mediastinal structures occurred. One pig died on postoperative day 1 due to an unrecognized pneumothorax. Two pigs had ischemic ulcers at the myotomy site. The last three pigs had an uneventful recovery. The mucosal incision site healed completely in all the survived pigs, and except for the pig with mediastinal sepsis, all ate heartily and gained weight as expected.

Conclusion

The TEEM procedure is technically feasible. Due to the morbidity encountered in the first three pigs, the reported technique was modified to include a slimmer endoscope, a shorter tunnel, and a partial-thickness myotomy. These changes together with an understanding of the pitfalls involved in this procedure led to successful results for the next three pigs. Nevertheless, the authors believe that TEEM is not yet ready for prime time. Perfection of the technique and development of dedicated instruments are mandatory before safe translation of this method to human patients.     

Initial experience with peroral endoscopic myotomy for treatment of achalasia in children

Background

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by aperistalsis of the esophagus and failed relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter that presents rarely in childhood. The peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure is an emerging treatment for achalasia in adults that has recently been introduced into pediatric surgical practice.

内镜下食管肌层切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder involving the smooth muscle layer of the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter. It is characterized by difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, and sometimes chest pain. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) was developed by Inoue to provide a less invasive permanent treatment for esophageal achalasia. We applied this method to cure successfully a 47-year-old female with achalasia. The procedure was as follows: after creating submucosal tunnel, endoscopic myotomy of circular muscle bundles was carried out at approximately 16 cm in total length ( 15 cm in distal esophagus and 1 cm in cardia). Smooth passing of endoscope through gastroesophageal junction was confirmed at the end of the procedure. The third day after POEM, the barium meal examination revealed the barium smoothly passed though the cardia. The short-term outcome of POEM for achalasia was excellent, and further studies on long-term efficacy and on comparison of POEM with other interventional therapies are awaited.     

Laparoscopic myotomy vs endoscopic dilation in the treatment of achalasia

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained in 14 patients with achalasia who underwent laparoscopic Heller's myotomy and Dor's fundoplication with those of 16 patients who had endoscopic dilation. METHODS: The diagnosis of achalasia was confirmed by manometry, endoscopy, and barium swallow. Esophageal symptoms were quantified before and after treatment using a clinical scale. Six patients had had endoscopic dilation prior to surgery. RESULTS: Before treatment, the patients in the surgical group complained of more severe dysphagia (median, 5; range, 0-5 vs median 4; range, 3-5) and chest pain (median, 3; range, 0-5 vs median, 1.5; range, 0-5), but both groups were comparable with respect to regurgitation, heartburn, and manometric results. Both groups achieved significant clinical improvement. The severity score decreased from 5 (range, 0-5) to 1 (range, 0-3) (p < 0.05) for dysphagia to solids in the laparoscopic group and from 4 (range, 3-5) to 1 (range, 0-5) (p < 0.05) in the endoscopic group. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) basal pressure decreased significantly in both groups (from 29.3 to 11.8 mmHg in the laparoscopic group and from 28.9 to 16.5 mmHg in the endoscopic group). After treatment, there were no significant clinical differences between the two groups. Two patients in the surgical group were converted to open surgery. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic myotomy is as save and effective as endoscopic dilation in the treatment of achalasia.     

Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in pediatric patients with esophageal achalasia: First Latin-American experience

BackgroundAchalasia is the most common primary motor disorder of the esophagus, but its incidence in pediatric patients is low. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) is the current surgical standard of care treatment. Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has emerged as a safe and effective therapeutic alternative in adult patients. We herein report the outcomes of a cohort of pediatric patients with achalasia treated by POEM at a Chilean medical center.MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on children who underwent POEM for esophageal achalasia. Clinical follow-up was evaluated by recording the Eckardt score, a high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) three months after the procedure, and an annual upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.ResultsFive patients with esophageal achalasia confirmed by HREM and with a mean age of 11 (5 to 15) years underwent POEM between 2017 and 2019. One patient had a previous LHM. No morbidity or mortality was observed. All patients resolved their dysphagia and no patient required further interventions. Mean Eckardt score reduced from 10 points preoperatively to 1 point postoperatively.Two patients currently have mild esophagitis (confirmed by endoscopy).ConclusionOur results support the previously reported safety and effectiveness of POEM. Longer follow-up and larger cohorts will be important to confirm its role in the treatment of children with esophageal achalasia.Type of studyTreatment study.Level of evidenceLevel IV.     

Development and technique of per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia

BACKGROUND: Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder involving the absence of esophageal body peristalsis and defective relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The optimal treatment is still controversial. Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has recently evolved from developments in Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). METHODS: Substantial experimental work in animals and cadavers was performed to establish the technical approach for POEM before clinical implementation. This flexible endoscopic procedure involved incising the mid-esophageal mucosa followed by access into the submucosal space. A tunnel onto the gastric cardia was dissected and selective division of the circular/sling-fibers of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was performed by needle knife cautery. The mucosotomy was closed by conventional endoscopic hemoclips. Subsequently, a 61-year-old male patient with achalasia was enrolled in an ongoing study. RESULTS: Based on preclinical work, the steps of endoscopic submucosal myotomy were defined. In the patient described, mucosal balloon-dilatation facilitated access into the submucosal space. Dissection was performed until 3 cm below the gastroesophageal junction and the partial myotomy was 7 cm. The mucosal entry was easily closed. Postoperative esophagogram did not detect esophageal leakage and the patient was discharged on the next morning. He reported immediate symptom relief on the 2-week clinical follow-up without the need of pain medication. CONCLUSIONS: POEM for achalasia is a perfect example of the true surgical revolution resulting from NOTES research. Although the long-term outcome of POEM has still to be evaluated, the promise of this novel procedure seems more than obvious.     

经口内镜全层肌切开术与环形肌切开术治疗重症贲门失弛缓症的临床疗效

目的 比较经口内镜全层肌切开术与环形肌切开术治疗重症贲门失弛缓症(AC)的临床疗效.方法 回顾性分析2011年8月至2013年5月中南大学湘雅二医院收治的123例行经口内镜肌切开术(POEM)重症AC患者的临床资料.其中70例患者行全层肌切开设为全层肌切开组,53例患者行环形肌切开设为环形肌切开组.比较两种治疗方式的临床疗效及并发症发生情况.患者术后定期门诊随访,随访时间截至2014年5月.连续计量资料以i±s表示,采用t检验;非连续资料以M(范围)表示,采用Wilcoxon秩和检验;手术前后比较采用重复测量方差分析;定性资料比较采用x2检验.结果 所有重症AC患者成功行POEM,全层肌切开组手术时间为(57±8)min,短于环形肌切开组的(63±12) min,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(=3.421,P＜0.05).全层肌切开组与环形肌切开组患者并发症发生率分别为14.3％(10/70)、11.3％ (6/53),两组比较,差异无统计学意义(x2=0.234,P＞0.05).119例患者获得随访,中位随访时间为18个月(12 ～24个月).全层肌切开组患者术后6个月和12个月的中位Eckardt评分均为0分(0～3分),环形肌切开组分别为0分(0～2分)及0分(0～3分),两组患者治疗有效率分别为98.6％(69/70)和98.1％ (52/53),两组比较,差异无统计学意义(Z=0.525,1.476,x2=0.040,P＞0.05).全层肌切开组和环形肌切开组患者术后6个月的食管直径分别为(3.2±0.3)cm、(3.4±0.4)cm,两组比较,差异无统计学意义(江1.927,P＞0.05);均小于术前的(5.9±1.0)cm和(5.9±1.0)cm,手术前后比较,差异有统计学意义(F=780.923,493.018,P＜0.05).两组患者随访期间内无一例复发.结论 经口内镜全层肌切开术与环形肌切开术治疗重症AC患者的短期疗效相当,并发症发生率相似,但全层肌切开术可缩短手术时间.     

经口内镜下环形肌切开术治疗42例贲门失弛症

目的 探讨经口内镜下环形肌切开术（POEM）治疗贲门失弛症（AC）的疗效和可行性。方法回顾性分析2010年8月至2011年3月42例确诊为Ac并接受POEM治疗患者的临床资料。POEM的主要步骤包括：食管黏膜层切开;分离黏膜下层,建立黏膜下“隧道”;胃镜直视下切开环形肌：金属夹关闭黏膜层切口。结果42例患者平均年龄43．9（10～70）岁,病程3个月至50年。全组患者均顺利完成POEM术,手术时间（68．5±25．5）min,黏膜下隧道长度（10．5±1．5）cm,环形肌切开长度（9．5±2．5）cm,无一例出现与POEM相关的严重并发症。术后中位随访时间2．5（1-6）个月．41例吞咽困难明显得到解除：1例术后15d出现进食困难及呕吐,胃镜检查发现黏膜下窦道形成．行内镜下窦道切开。结论作为一种新的微创治疗方法,POEM治疗Ac短期疗效肯定,可以迅速解除AC患者吞咽困难．但其长期疗效及远期并发症仍有待随访和观察。     

Cricopharyngeal myotomy for the treatment of cricopharyngeal achalasia

Three cases of cricopharyngeal achalasia are being presented. The preoperative diagnosis was established by a contrast swallow. Cricopharyngeal myotomy was performed in all patients. One child died in the postoperative period because of respiratory failure secondary to aspiration pneumonitis, whereas in the other two, symptoms were relieved, and they remain asymptomatic on follow-up.     

Factors predicting the technical difficulty of peroral endoscopic myotomy for achalasia

Background

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been described as a novel treatment for esophageal achalasia. Owing to its technical difficulty, POEM is not widely performed. This study was aimed to prospectively assess the factor predicting technical difficulty of POEM in a single center with large volume cases.

Methods

A total of 105 cases of achalasia treated by POEM from April 2011 to September 2014 were analyzed. Difficult cases of POEM were defined as procedure time ≥90 min and occurrence of adverse events, including mucosal perforation, pneumothorax, and major bleeding. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the predictive factors of difficult POEM.

Results

POEM was successfully completed in all the patients, and no one was converted to laparoscopy. The number of cases with procedure time ≥90 min was 17. Mucosal perforations occurred in six (5.7 %) patients during submucosal tunnel creation, major bleeding occurred in seven (6.7 %) patients, and pneumothorax occurred in six (5.7 %) patients immediately after procedure. All the complications were managed conservatively. No other intraoperative and immediate postoperative complications, including infections and pneumoperitoneum, occurred. Multivariate analysis showed that early period (odds ratio [OR] 4.173, 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI] 1.36–6.829, P = 0.023) and triangular tip knife ([OR] 6.712, [95 % CI] 1.479–30.460, P = 0.014) were independent factors associated with technical difficulty regarding longer procedure time (procedure time ≥90 min).

Conclusion

POEM is safe for the treatment of esophageal achalasia. Triangular tip knife and early period were independent risk factors for longer procedural time.

     

经口内镜肌切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症并发症的护理

对203例贲门失弛缓症患者行经口内镜肌切开术,术后出现纵隔及皮下气肿86例,气胸28例,膈下气体47例,迟发性出血1例,感染2例,均保守治疗痊愈;术后3～7 d出院,术后随访1～6个月,所有患者治疗效果满意,吞咽困难得到解除.提出术后密切观察,及时发现并处理纵隔及皮下气肿、气胸、膈下气体、出血、感染等并发症,可提高治疗效果,促使患者早日康复.     

Peroral endoscopic longer vs shorter esophageal myotomy for achalasia treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUNDPeroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in the treatment of achalasia. Longer myotomy is the standard POEM procedure for achalasia but when compared with shorter myotomy, its effectiveness is not as well known. AIMTo compare the clinical effectiveness of longer and shorter myotomy. METHODSPubMed, EmBase, Cochrane Library, web of science and clinicaltrials.gov were queried for studies comparing shorter and longer POEM for achalasia treatment. The primary outcome was clinical success rate. Secondary outcomes comprised of operative time, adverse events (AEs) rate, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and procedure-related parameters. The Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effects model was primarily used for the analysis. Publication bias was assessed.RESULTSSix studies were included in this analysis with a total of 514 participants. During the follow-up period of 1-28.7 mo, longer and shorter myotomy in treating achalasia showed similar excellent effectiveness [overall clinical success (OR = 1, 95%CI: 0.46-2.17, P = 1, I²: 0%; subgroup of abstract (OR = 1.19, 95%CI: 0.38 to 3.73; P = 0.76; I²: 0%); subgroup of full text (OR = 0.86 95%CI: 0.30 to 2.49; P = 0.78; I²: 0%)]. Shorter myotomy had significantly reduced mean operative time compared with the longer procedure. There were no statistically significant differences in AEs rates, including GERD (overall OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 0.76-1.91; P = 0.42; I²: 9%; subgroup of abstract OR = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.40-1.47; P = 0.43; I²: 0%; subgroup of full text OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 0.98-3.75; P = 0.06; I²: 0%), hospital stay (overall MD = -0.07, 95%CI: -0.30 to 0.16; P = 0.55; I²: 24%; subgroup of abstract MD = 0.20, 95%CI: -0.25 to 0.65; P = 0.39; I²: 0; subgroup of full text MD = -0.16, 95%CI: -0.42 to 0.10; P = 0.23; I²: 42%), and major bleeding (overall OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 0.58-2.71; P = 0.56; I²: 0%) between the two procedures. These differences remained statistically non-significant in all sensitivity analyses.CONCLUSIONPOEM was effective in treating achalasia. Shorter and longer myotomy procedures provided similar therapeutic effects in terms of long-term effectiveness. In addition, shorter myotomy reduced the operative time.     

Prior treatment does not influence the performance or early outcome of per-oral endoscopic myotomy for achalasia

Introduction

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an emerging treatment for achalasia. Pneumatic dilation, botulinum toxin injection, and previous myotomy increase the difficulty of subsequent Heller myotomy, but their impact on POEM remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare patients who had undergone prior treatment for their achalasia to those undergoing POEM as an initial therapy.

Methods and Procedures

All patients undergoing POEM were entered into a prospective database from August 2012 to October 2014. Data collected included demographics, dysphagia and symptom survey scores, operative time, clips required for mucosotomy closure, perioperative complications and length of hospital stay.

Results

Forty-five patients underwent POEM during the study period. Fifteen (30 %) had undergone previous treatment (seven Botox injection, five pneumatic dilation and three Heller myotomy). Primary POEM patients were younger than those who had had prior treatment (mean age 46 ± 17 vs. 64 ± 12 years, p < 0.001), but gender, body mass index and ASA class were not significantly different. There were no conversions to Heller myotomy or perioperative complications in either group. Operative time for primary POEM was 103 ± 27 versus 102 ± 29 min following prior treatment (p = 0.84). Mucosotomy closure required a median 7 (4–16) and 8 (5–16) clips, respectively (p = 0.08). Length of stay was 1 day in each group. Median dysphagia scores decreased from 4 (0–5) to 1 (0–4) following primary POEM and 4 (0–5) to 0 (0–4) in the prior treatment group (p = 0.45) during a median follow-up of 10 months (5–17 months). All patients in each group expressed satisfaction with their procedure and would undergo the procedure again given the benefit of hindsight.

Conclusion

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy is a safe and effective treatment for achalasia which improves dysphagia and disease-specific quality of life. Previous endoscopic or laparoscopic treatment of achalasia does not affect the performance or early outcome of POEM.

     

Two decades of experience with modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia

We reviewed the hospital records of 36 patients who underwent modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia between January, 1961, and December, 1982. There were 18 male and 18 female patients ranging between 17 months and 75 years old. The most frequent symptom was dysphagia, followed by regurgitation of ingested food and weight loss. Modified Heller's myotomy was performed through a transthoracic incision in 35 patients and a transabdominal incision in 1. An antireflux procedure in addition to esophagomyotomy was performed in 20 patients. There was 1 postoperative death. Thirty-three patients were followed up for periods ranging from 9 months to 21 years. The results were considered good in 27, fair in 2, and poor in 4. One of the 4 underwent repeat esophagomyotomy 71/2 years after the initial operation with a good result. The remaining 3 had an antireflux procedure at the time of esophagomyotomy. Because of recurrence of symptoms, esophagogastrostomy was performed in 1 and colon interposition in 2. These results suggest that an antireflux procedure should not be added to modified Heller's operation in the treatment of achalasia.     

Robotic-assisted heller myotomy versus laparoscopic heller myotomy for the treatment of esophageal achalasia: multicenter study

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) has become the standard treatment option for achalasia. The incidence of esophageal perforation reported is about 5%–10%. Robotically assisted Heller myotomy (RAHM) is emerging as a safe alternative to LHM. Data comparing the two approaches are scant. The aim of this study was to compare RAHM with LHM in terms of efficacy and safety for treatment of achalasia. A total of 121 patients underwent surgical treatment of achalasia at three institutions. A retrospective review of prospectively collected perioperative data was performed. Patients were divided into two groups: group A (RAHM), 59 patients, and group B (LHM), 62 patients. All the operations were completed using minimally invasive techniques. There were 63 women and 58 men, with a mean age of 45 ±19 years (14–82 years). Fifty-one percent of patients in group A and 95% of patients in group B reported weight loss. Duration of symptoms was equal for both groups. Dysphagia was the main complaint in both groups (P = NS). There was no difference in preoperative endoscopic treatment in both groups (44% versus 27%, P = NS). Operative time was significantly shorter for LHM in the first half of the experience (141 ± 49 versus 122 ± 44 minutes, P < .05). However, in the last 30 cases there was no difference in operative time between the groups (P = NS). Intraoperative complications (esophageal perforation) were more frequent in group B (16% versus 0%). The incidence of postoperative heartburn did not differ by group. There were no deaths. At 18 and 22 months, 92% and 90% of patients had relief of their dysphagia. This study suggests that RAHM is safer than LHM, because it decreases the incidence of esophageal perforation to 0%, even in patients who had previous treatment. At short-term follow-up, relief of dysphagia was equally achieved in both groups. Presented at the Forty-Sixth Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Chicago, Illinois, May 14–18, 2005 (oral presentation). This study was supported in part by a grant provided by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.     

Peroral endoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia: technique, indication, and outcomes

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been developed as an incisionless, minimally invasive endoscopic treatment intending a permanent cure for esophageal achalasia. The concept of endoscopic myotomy was first reported about 3 decades ago, but the direct incision method through the mucosal layer was not considered to be a safe and reliable approach. A novel method of endoscopic myotomy was developed and established by the authors. In this article, the current techniques, applications, and clinical results of POEM are described.     

Perioperative management and treatment for complications during and after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for esophageal achalasia (EA) (data from 119 cases)

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the management and treatment for complications during and after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for patients suffering from esophageal achalasia (EA).

Methods

The data of 119 cases of EA patients who underwent POEM from October 2010 to July 2011 and the complications that arose during the operation, after the operation, and during follow-up were analyzed.

Results

Complications that occurred during the operation included cutaneous emphysema (22.7?%, 27/119) and pneumothorax (2.5?%, 3/119). Postoperative complications included pneumothorax (25.2?%, 30/119), subcutaneous emphysema (55.5?%, 66/119), mediastinal emphysema (29.4?%, 35/119), delayed hemorrhage (0.8?%, 1/119), pleural effusion (48.7?%, 58/119), minor inflammation or segmental atelectasis of the lungs (49.6?%, 59/119), and gas under diaphragm or aeroperitoneum (39.5?%, 47/119). Complications that occurred during follow-up included one case of difficulty eating caused by the stricture of mucosa and one case of dehiscence at the mouth of the tunnel created during surgery, with food retention. No deaths occurred. All complications were resolved through traditional treatment. No additional surgery was needed.

Conclusion

Complications arising during and after POEM should be treated quickly and can be resolved by using traditional treatment. POEM can be expected to become the preferred treatment for EA.     

腹腔镜改良Heller手术治疗贲门失弛缓症

目的:探讨腹腔镜改良Heller术治疗贲门失弛缓症的临床应用价值。方法:2004年2月至2008年4月我们为6例贲门失弛缓症患者行腹腔镜改良Heller术并随访。结果:手术时间45~122min,平均(74.0±29.0)min;术中出血5~65ml,平均(23.7±22.7)ml;无一例中转开腹及并发症发生;住院3~8d,平均(5.5±1.8)d。术后随访3~46个月,平均(26.8±16.2)月,5例症状缓解,1例轻度吞咽困难。结论:腹腔镜改良Heller手术具有术野清晰、并发症少、患者创伤小、康复快、住院时间短等优点,是治疗贲门失弛缓症首选方法之一。