Botulinum toxin treatment of oesophageal achalasia in the old old and oldest old: a 1-year follow-up study

Gastrointestinal Uses of Botulinum Toxin

Botulinum toxin (BT), one of the most powerful inhibitors that prevents the release of acetylcholine from nerve endings, represents an alternative therapeutic approach for "spastic" disorders of the gastrointestinal tract such as achalasia, gastroparesis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, chronic anal fissures, and pelvic floor dyssynergia.BT has proven to be safe and this allows it to be a valid alternative in patients at high risk of invasive procedures but long-term efficacy in many disorders has not been observed, primarily due to its relatively short duration of action. Administration of BT has a low rate of adverse reactions and complications. However, not all patients respond to BT therapy, and large randomized controlled trials are lacking for many conditions commonly treated with BT.The local injection of BT in some conditions becomes a useful tool to decide to switch to more invasive therapies. Since 1980, the toxin has rapidly transformed from lethal poison to a safe therapeutic agent, with a significant impact on the quality of life.

ASGE guideline on the management of achalasia

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder of unknown etiology characterized by degeneration of the myenteric plexus, which results in impaired relaxation of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), along with the loss of organized peristalsis in the esophageal body. The criterion standard for diagnosing achalasia is high-resolution esophageal manometry showing incomplete relaxation of the EGJ coupled with the absence of organized peristalsis. Three achalasia subtypes have been defined based on high-resolution manometry findings in the esophageal body. Treatment of patients with achalasia has evolved in recent years with the introduction of peroral endoscopic myotomy. Other treatment options include botulinum toxin injection, pneumatic dilation, and Heller myotomy. This American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Standards of Practice Guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of achalasia, based on an updated assessment of the individual and comparative effectiveness, adverse effects, and cost of the 4 aforementioned achalasia therapies.

Treatment of gastrointestinal sphincters spasms with botulinum toxin A

Botulinum toxin A inhibits neuromuscular transmission. It has become a drug with many indications. The range of clinical applications has grown to encompass several neurological and non-neurological conditions. One of the most recent achievements in the field is the observation that botulinum toxin A provides benefit in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Although toxin blocks cholinergic nerve endings in the autonomic nervous system, it has also been shown that it does not block non-adrenergic non-cholinergic responses mediated by nitric oxide. This has promoted further interest in using botulinum toxin A as a treatment for overactive smooth muscles and sphincters. The introduction of this therapy has made the treatment of several clinical conditions easier, in the outpatient setting, at a lower cost and without permanent complications. This review presents current data on the use of botulinum toxin A in the treatment of pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Achalasia: advances in treatment

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder, which shows distinct clinical, manometric, radiologic, and pathologic features. Available treatment strategies are pharmacological, endoscopic or surgical. In the past decades preferred treatment has alternated between surgical myotomy (presently Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy [LHM]) and endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). While surgical myotomy promises superior long-term results and significantly less retreatment, endoscopic balloon dilation is initially far less invasive and yields comparable results after redilation. Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) aims to combine the minimal invasive approach through the mouth with the better long-term results after LHM. Initial findings in the literature point to comparable success-rates after POEM and LHM. In the literature complication rates are similar to those obtained after surgery. This new interventional technique should be subject to randomized controlled trials and compared to EBD and LHM.

Management of achalasia

Several theories on the etiology and pathophysiology of achalasia have been reported but, to date, it is widely accepted that loss of peristalsis and absence of swallow-induced relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter are the main functional abnormalities. Treatment of achalasia often aims to alleviate the symptoms of achalasia and not to correct the underlying disorder. Medical therapy has poor efficacy, so patients who are good surgical candidates should be offered either laparoscopic myotomy or pneumatic balloon dilatation. Their own preference should be included in the decision-making process, and treatment should meet the local expertise with these procedures. Laparoscopic surgical esophagomyotomy is a safe and effective modality. It can be considered as initial management or as secondary treatment if the patient does not respond to less invasive modalities. Pneumatic dilatation has proven to be a safe, effective, and durable modality of treatment when performed by experienced individuals, and appears to be the most cost-effective alternative. For patients with multiple comorbidities and for elderly patients, who are not good surgical candidates, endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin should be considered a safe and effective procedure. However, its positive effect diminishes over time, and the need for multiple repeated sessions must be taken into consideration. In the management of patients with achalasia, nutritional aspects play an important role. When lifestyle changes are insufficient, it is necessary to proceed to percutaneous gastrostomy under radiological guidance. In the future, intraluminal myotomy or endoscopic mucosectomy will possibly be an option. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of immunosuppressive therapies in those cases in which an autoimmune etiology is suspected.

Achalasia--which method of treatment to choose for senior patients?

BACKGROUND

Achalasia is an uncommon illness affecting 1 per 100,000 patients a year. It encompasses a rare, primary motor disorder of the distal esophagus.

METHODS

Over the period 1998-2006, 115 patients underwent various treatments for achalasia; the subgroup of seniors consisted of 26 patients. Six patients of these (age 69.7 y) underwent a modified Heller cardiomyotomy due to failure of previous endoscopic interventions. Standard esophageal manometry and 24 hour pH metry were performed pre- and postoperatively.

RESULTS

Six senior patients with achalasia underwent a laparoscopic Heller myotomy. Average preoperative tonus of the LES was 55 mmHg, postoperative tonus of the LES decreased to 11 mmHg. We performed Toupet partial fundoplication in all patients; no microperforation of the esophagus was found in the preoperative esophagoscopy. We recorded minimal pathological gastroesophageal reflux in pH metry - the average preoperative DeMeester score was 8, postoperatively 10.5. Prolonged dysphagia was not present in any patient--preoperative GIQLI score was 94, postoperative score was 106. There was no mortality or morbidity in the group of the operated patients.

CONCLUSION

Our operational results and postoperative follow-up show that laparoscopic Heller myotomy with Toupet partial fundoplication is a safe and effective treatment and can be recommended as the method of first choice for senior patients with no contraindication for laparoscopic operation.

Non-surgical treatment of esophageal achalasia

Esophageal achalasia is an infrequent motility disorder characterized by a progressive stasis and dilation of the oesophagus; with subsequent risk of aspiration, weight loss, and malnutrition. Although the treatment of achalasia has been traditionally based on a surgical approach, especially with the introduction of laparoscopic techniques, there is still some space for a medical approach. The present article reviews the non-surgical therapeutic options for achalasia.

Treatment with botulinum toxin of octo-nonagerians with oesophageal achalasia: a two-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Treatment of oesophageal achalasia with intrasphincteric injections of botulinum toxin has proved to be a successful alternative treatment modality. However, little is known about its long-term effects in very old patients.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of such treatment in octo-nonagerians during a 2-year follow-up period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-three patients with idiopathic oesophageal achalasia (range 81-94 years) entered the study. After basal evaluation and screening procedures, 100 U of botulinum toxin was injected at the lower oesophageal sphincter, and the procedure was repeated 1 month later. Data were collected at baseline and were compared after 1 and 2 years following the procedure.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight per cent of patients were considered responders at 1 year and 54% were considered responders at 2 years. The weight gain at the end of the follow-up period was 2 (0-3) kg. No significant relationship was found between baseline lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and symptoms score after 1 and 2 years of follow-up; moreover, no major complications of botulinum toxin therapy were reported.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of very old achalasic patients with botulinum toxin is safe, effective and yields good quality of life in a substantial proportion of these subjects.