Peroral endoscopic myotomy is highly effective for achalasia patients with recurrent symptoms after pneumatic dilatation

Evolving therapeutic approaches in achalasia: a comprehensive review of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) vs. Heller's myotomy

This comprehensive narrative review thoroughly explores the treatment landscape for achalasia, a rare esophageal motility disorder. Beginning with an introduction outlining the anatomical and clinical aspects of achalasia, the review delves into its historical perspective, tracing the evolution of treatment options from early nonsurgical methods to advanced surgical techniques such as Heller's myotomy and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Technical perspectives on surgical interventions, including key steps, clinical practice guidelines, and modifications to POEM techniques, are extensively discussed. A comparative analysis between POEM and Heller's myotomy elucidates their indications, contraindications, efficacy, outcomes, and interventions for persistent symptoms or complications. Furthermore, the review explores the adverse events associated with both procedures, highlighting their safety profiles and management strategies. Finally, from a financial perspective, considerations such as operative time, hospital stay length, readmission rates, and quality-adjusted life years are examined, emphasizing the implications for patient decision-making. This review underscores the importance of a multidimensional approach to understanding and managing achalasia, advocating for further research to enhance treatment efficacy and reduce adverse effects.

Clinical outcomes and manometry results of peroral endoscopic myotomy in patients with achalasia: experience in a Latin American referral centre

INTRODUCTION

Currently there is little information in Latin America on the clinical outcome and manometric evolution of patients with Achalasia undergoing peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

PRIMARY OUTCOME

Evaluate the manometric and clinical changes in adult patients with achalasia after peroral endoscopic myotomy at a referral center in Bogotá, Colombia.

METHODS

Observational, analytical, longitudinal study. Adult patients with achalasia according to the Chicago 4.0 criteria were included. Sociodemographic, clinical and manometric variables were described. To compare the pre- and post-surgical variables, the Student's or Wilcoxon's t test was used for the quantitative variables according to their normality, and McNemar's chi-square for the qualitative variables.

RESULTS

29 patients were included, 55.17% (n=16) women, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 48.2 years (±11.33). The mean post-procedure evaluation time was 1.88±0.81 years. After the procedure, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of patients with weight loss (37.93% vs 21.43% p 0.0063), chest pain (48.28% vs 21.43, p 0.0225) and the median Eckardt score (8 (IQR 8 -9) vs 2(IQR 1-2), p <0.0001). In addition, in fourteen patients with post-surgical manometry, significant differences were found between IRP values (23.05±14.83mmHg vs 7.69±6.06mmHg, p 0.026) and in the mean lower esophageal sphincter tone (9.63±7.2mmHg vs 28.8±18.60mmHg, p 0.0238).

CONCLUSION

Peroral endoscopic myotomy has a positive impact on the improvement of symptoms and of some manometric variables (IRP and LES tone) in patients with achalasia.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy for the treatment of achalasia in the Unified Healthcare System (SUS): results of a short-term

INTRODUCTION

achalasia is a chronic disease. Since there is no curative treatment, diagnosed patients have pharmacological and/or surgical techniques available, aimed at minimizing the condition. POEM appears as a promising new type of palliative treatment with good rates of symptom improvement.

OBJECTIVE

evaluate the profile of POEM at the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Pernambuco (HC - UFPE) and correlate it with the world scenario.

METHODS

data collection was performed retrospectively from September 2017 to October 2019 with all patients undergoing POEM at the HC - UFPE. Sociodemographic, clinical, and hospital variables were evaluated before and three months after the procedure.

RESULTS

of 27 patients (52.41 ± 19.24 years old) who underwent the procedure, 66.7% had idiopathic etiology and 33.3% had etiology secondary to Chagas disease. 48% patients underwent previous procedures, of which seven used some type of medication for symptom control, two underwent pneumatic endoscopic dilation, and four underwent Heller cardiomyotomy with partial fundoplication. 62.5% of the evaluated patients had type II achalasia before the procedure. Seven (25.9%) patients presented the following adverse events: four presented bleeding, two pneumoperitoneum, and one both complications, all being treated conservatively. The Eckardt score reduced from 8.37 ± 1.45 to 0.85 ± 1.06 (p-value <0.001).

CONCLUSION

clinical improvement of symptoms and the patient profile followed the worldwide trend, with emphasis on the etiology secondary to Chagas disease, endemic in Brazil. Gastroesophageal reflux remains the main post-operative symptom.

Miotomia endoscópica peroral para o tratamento de acalásia no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS): resultados de seguimento no curto-prazo

RESUMO Introdução: a acalasia é uma doença crônica. Por não haver tratamento curativo, os pacientes diagnosticados dispõem de técnicas farmacológicas e/ou cirúrgicas, visando minimizar o quadro. A POEM surge como um novo tipo de tratamento paliativo promissor com boas taxas de melhora dos sintomas. Objetivo: avaliar o perfil das POEM realizadas no Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (HC - UFPE) e correlacioná-lo com o cenário mundial. Métodos: a coleta de dados foi realizada retrospectivamente no período de setembro de 2017 a outubro de 2019 com todos os pacientes submetidos a POEM no HC - UFPE. Variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas e hospitalares foram avaliadas antes e três meses após o procedimento. Resultados: total de 27 pacientes (52,41 ± 19,24 anos) que realizaram o procedimento, 66,7% com etiologia idiopática e 33,3% com etiologia secundária à doença de Chagas. 48% tinham sido submetidos a procedimentos prévios, dos quais sete usaram algum tipo de medicamento para controle dos sintomas, dois foram submetidos à dilatação endoscópica pneumática e quatro à cardiomiotomia a Heller com fundoplicatura parcial. 62,5% dos pacientes avaliados tinham acalasia tipo ii antes do procedimento. Sete (25,9%) apresentaram eventos adversos: quatro sangramentos, dois pneumoperitônio e um ambas as complicações, todos foram tratados de forma conservadora. O escore de Eckardt reduziu de 8,37 ± 1,45 para 0,85 ± 1,06 (valor de p<0,001). Conclusão: melhora clínica e o perfil dos pacientes acompanhou a tendência mundial, destaque para a etiologia secundária à doença de Chagas, endêmica no Brasil. O refluxo gastroesofágico continua sendo o principal sintoma pós-operatório.