2019 Seoul Consensus on Esophageal Achalasia Guidelines

Terminal Stage of Esophageal Achalasia Combined With Adenocarcinoma After a Previous Open Myotomy

Achalasia is a rare, chronic disorder of esophageal motility characterized by the lower esophageal sphincter's inability to relax and a lack of normal esophageal peristalsis. We present a 70-year-old man with longstanding achalasia, a previous open myotomy, and adenocarcinoma in the lower third of the esophagus. A subtotal esophageal resection, gastroesophagoplasty by McKeown, and pyloroplasty by Heineke-Mikulicz were performed.

How preoperative upper gastrointestinal investigations affect the management of bariatric patients: results of a cohort study of 897 patients

INTRODUCTION

Preoperative diagnostic protocols vary worldwide, some prioritizing safety while others question routine procedures. Building on prior research, this study explores the impact of diverse preoperative findings on bariatric management and procedure selection.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis of prospective data of over 1000 bariatric surgery patients from January 2017 to December 2022 undergoing primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) were analyzed. Preoperative assessment included upper endoscopy, upper GI series, and esophageal manometry. Sonography data were excluded. The primary endpoint examined the influence of preoperative exams on procedure selection, the secondary endpoint evaluated their therapeutic impact.

RESULTS

897 patients (741 RYGB, 156 SG) were included. All underwent upper endoscopy, revealing common findings such as type C gastritis and reflux esophagitis. Upper endoscopy prompted a therapeutic consequence in 216 patients (24.3%), resulting in a number needed to screen (NNS) of 4.1. Upper GI series and manometry were more frequently performed before LSG. Upper GI series detected hiatal hernias and motility disorders but did not result in any change of procedures. Esophageal manometry found pathologies in 37 (25.3%) patients rising to 41.5% if symptoms were present. Overall, 16 (1.8%) patients experienced a change in the planned procedure, with 14 changes prompted by preoperative findings and two by technical difficulties.

CONCLUSION

We advise routine upper endoscopies for all patients undergoing LRYGB or LSG, while reserving upper GI series only for selected cases. Manometry should be exclusively performed on symptomatic patients undergoing LSG, ensuring a balanced and individualized preoperative assessment.

Advanced Esophageal Endoscopy

Recent advancements in endoscopy, including high-definition imaging, virtual chromoendoscopy, and optical magnification, have enhanced our ability to visualize and diagnose certain esophageal diseases. Innovative endoscopic tools and procedures have been developed to broaden the scope of therapeutic options for treating patients with various esophageal conditions. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the esophageal anatomy and major disorders from an endoscopist's perspective and explore recent advances in endoscopic treatment.

Achalasia: diagnostic delay and manometric characteristics with high-resolution solid-state and perfusion equipment

INTRODUCTION

the early diagnosis of achalasia requires a high degree of clinical suspicion, and delays in diagnosis are frequent. High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) is the gold standard for its diagnostic confirmation. There are two HRM systems, perfusion and solid-state, which allow its classification into three subtypes: I, or classical; II, or with pan-esophageal pressurization; and III, or spastic.

OBJECTIVE

to determine the clinical and manometric characteristics of the three subtypes with high-resolution perfusion and solid-state equipment and the time of evolution until diagnosis.

METHODS

this was a multicenter, observational, retrospective study of patients from the INTEGRA database of the Spanish Association of Neurogastroenterology and Motility who were diagnosed with primary achalasia confirmed by HRM, who fell under the Chicago Classification v3.0, and who had not been treated.

RESULTS

the study included 110 patients (subtype I, n = 14; subtype II, n = 73; subtype III, n = 23). The HRM equipment was perfusion for 49 and solid-state for 61. The mean age was 61.8 ± 14 years (age range 44-81), the age was lower in subtype II, and sex distribution was similar. The time of clinical evolution until diagnosis was > 12 months (51.6 %), subtype II being the one that was diagnosed earlier and the most often (66.3 %). Dysphagia was the most frequent symptom (90.5 %). According to the comparative analysis by high-resolution perfusion and solid-state esophageal manometry equipment, the baseline pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter was higher in the solid-state esophagus, but the difference was not statistically significant. The median integrated relaxation pressure at four seconds (IRP4) was similar (21 mmHg) between the perfusion and solid-state measurements. We describe the ranges of IRP4 in achalasia patients with both systems and confirm the possibility of achalasia even when IRP4 is within the normal range.

CONCLUSIONS

achalasia in our environment has a significant diagnostic delay. No significant differences were observed in the esophagogastric junction between the two groups diagnosed with perfusion and solid-state equipment.

Esophageal achalasia presenting as recurrent pneumonia in children: A case series

Esophageal achalasia (EA) is a rare primary esophageal motility disorder that is considered a rare etiology of dysphagia among infants and children. The proposed primary pathophysiology is related to the loss of ganglion cells in the distal esophageal sphincters, particularly in the Auerbachian muscle layer, which then leads to the dysmotility and failure of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. Dysphagia, vomiting, poor weight gain, cough, and recurrent aspiration pneumonia are the most common presenting complaints. Herein, we report 3 cases of EA who presented with chronic cough and recurrent aspiration pneumonia. This study reviewed 3 pediatric patients with typical symptoms of EA. All the patients were admitted and referred to the pediatric pulmonology service for evaluation of recurrent pneumonia and suspected aspiration syndrome. All patients underwent a barium esophagogram as a part of the aerodigestive workup of recurrent vomiting, dysphagia, and aspiration pneumonia. Additionally, all the patients underwent workup for other associated congenital anomalies, which included echocardiography, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and an abdominal ultrasound. All patients had EA and presented with recurrent pneumonia. All patients had isolated EA, and none had any evidence of Allgrove syndrome. Pneumatic balloon dilatation was performed for all patients at the same time as the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Later, all the patients underwent a laparoscopic Heller myotomy and had no postoperative complications, and their symptoms resolved. EA is a rare condition in children, yet it can be a serious and life-threatening condition if left untreated. Our cases emphasize the significance of considering achalasia in children who experience esophageal dysphagia and recurrent pneumonia. Several pediatric cases have been reported in which respiratory involvement was the primary manifestation of achalasia. These cases highlight the importance of considering gastrointestinal disorders, particularly EA, in the differential diagnosis of children who experience recurrent pneumonia. Early diagnosis and treatment with laparoscopic Heller myotomy can lead to good outcomes for children with achalasia.

Relationship Between Lower Esophageal Sphincter Muscles Thickness and Their Response to Pneumatic Dilation in Patients With Achalasia

Background

Prognostic factors play a major role in managing achalasia patients treated with pneumatic dilatation (PD) and understanding the pathophysiology of the disease. In this regard, the muscular thickness of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has drawn attention in recently published studies.

Methods

Patients with newly diagnosed achalasia were included consecutively in this study, and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) was used to determine the thickness of longitudinal and circular muscles of LES. To determine the recurrence of symptoms, patients were followed up for one year using the Eckardt questionnaire. The relationship between pre-treatment LES muscle thickness and symptom recurrence was investigated.

Results

Seventeen of nineteen treated patients were enrolled in this study and the data of sixteen patients was analyzed. Although not statistically significant, those with thinner LES had recurrent symptoms ( p-value = 0.08). Patients with a thicker LES (5.1 mm vs. 4.6 mm) initially responded better to pneumatic dilatation ( p-value = 0.03). After initial therapy, severe pain (daily pain) was strongly associated with symptom recurrence.

Conclusions

Severe retrosternal chest pain and a thin LES appear to be surrogate markers for advanced disease and poor outcomes. Pre-treatment integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) seems to be a promising predictor of PD prognosis. Due to the study's heterogeneous population, the findings cannot be generalized to all achalasia patients, and larger-scale studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Timed barium esophagography to predict recurrent achalasia after peroral endoscopic myotomy: a retrospective study in Thailand

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disease, for which peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has emerged as a promising treatment option; however, recurrence remains a challenge. Timed barium esophagography (TBE) is a useful diagnostic tool and potential outcome predictor of achalasia. This study aimed to determine predictive tools for recurrence after POEM.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled achalasia patients who underwent POEM between January 2015 and December 2021. Patients were categorized into two groups using the 1-month post-POEM Eckardt scores and TBE: the discordant group (Eckardt score improved >50%, TBE decreased <50%) and the concordant group (both Eckardt score and TBE improved >50%). Recurrence was defined as a reincrease in the Eckardt score to more than three during follow-up.

RESULTS

Complete medical records were available in 30 patients who underwent POEM. Seventeen patients (56.7%) were classified into the discordant group, while 13 patients (43.3%) were in the concordant group. The overall recurrence rate was 11.9% at 1-year, increasing to 23.8% during the extended follow-up. The discordant group had a 6.87 fold higher recurrence rate than the concordant group (52.9% vs. 7.7%, p=0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

These results strongly suggest that combining the Eckardt score with TBE can effectively predict recurrent achalasia after POEM. Patients in the discordant group had an elevated risk.

Canadian Association of Radiologists Gastrointestinal Imaging Referral Guideline

The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Gastrointestinal Expert Panel consists of radiologists, a gastroenterologist, a general surgeon, a family physician, a patient advisor, and an epidemiologist/guideline methodologist. After developing a list of 20 clinical/diagnostic scenarios, a systematic rapid scoping review was undertaken to identify systematically produced referral guidelines that provide recommendations for one or more of these clinical/diagnostic scenarios. Recommendations from 58 guidelines and contextualization criteria in the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) for guidelines framework were used to develop 85 recommendation statements specific to the adult population across the 20 scenarios. This guideline presents the methods of development and the referral recommendations for dysphagia/dyspepsia, acute nonlocalized abdominal pain, chronic abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease, acute gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic gastrointestinal bleeding/anemia, abnormal liver biopsy, pancreatitis, anorectal diseases, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, and foreign body ingestion.

Per oral endoscopic myotomy for achalasia

Achalasia, characterized by impaired lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation and failed peristalsis, stands out as the most widely recognized primary esophageal motility disorder. It manifests with dysphagia to solid and liquid foods, chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss, leading to significant morbidity and healthcare burden. Traditionally, surgical Heller myotomy and pneumatic dilation were the primary therapeutic approaches for achalasia. However, in 2009, Inoue and colleagues introduced a groundbreaking endoscopic technique called peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), revolutionizing the management of this condition. This review aims to comprehensively examine the recent advancements in the POEM technique for patients diagnosed with achalasia, delving into critical aspects, such as the tailoring of the myotomy, the prevention of intraprocedural adverse events (AEs), the evaluation of long-term outcomes, and the feasibility of retreatment in cases of therapeutic failure.

Cardiovascular Autonomic Deficits in Different Types of Achalasia

Background and objective Achalasia cardia is a primary esophageal motility disorder, and the etiopathology of this disease's progression is not known. Moreover, autonomic dysfunction has not been studied in different types of achalasia. In light of this, we aimed to address this lack of data in this study. Methods The diagnosis of achalasia was done using high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM)-based Chicago classification v4.0. Autonomic function tests (AFT) such as the head-up tilt test, deep breathing test (DBT), Valsalva maneuver (VM), handgrip test (HGT), and cold pressor test (CPT), as well as the heart rate variability (HRV) test, were performed among the cohort and the results were compared with those of 39 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results AFT and HRV tests were done on 62 patients (30 achalasia type I, 28 type II, and 4 type III) and compared with 39 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The mean duration of symptoms, high Eckardt score, and dysphagia were most common in type I achalasia, followed by type II and III. The results of AFT showed a generalized loss of parasympathetic and baroreflex-independent sympathetic reactivity in all types of achalasia. However, baroreflex-dependent cardiovascular adrenergic reactivity was normal. Regarding cardiac autonomic tone, there was a loss of parasympathetic and sympathetic influence, but sympathovagal balance was maintained. The severity of the loss of autonomic functions was higher in type I, followed by type II. Conclusions In all types of achalasia, parasympathetic reactivity, baroreflex-independent sympathetic reactivity, and cardiac autonomic tone were lower compared to healthy controls, and the severity of dysfunction increased during the progression of the disease from type II to type I.

Prevalence and disease burden of gastroparesis in Asia

Gastroparesis is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by significant prolongation of gastric emptying time caused by impaired motility of the stomach. Its estimated prevalence is 24.2 per 100 000 people. However, the prevalence of gastroparesis in Asian countries is unknown due to a limited number of epidemiological studies and significant phenotypic variability of the Asian population in these studies. Analysis of previous research on gastroparesis and functional bowel disorders reveals the possibility of an increased prevalence among Asian individuals. A comparison of ethnic constituents between the recent United Kingdom gastroparesis study and its mother database has demonstrated a higher prevalence of gastroparesis among British Asian patients when compared with British Caucasian patients. An estimated gastroparesis prevalence in the Asian population can be calculated by identifying the individuals who are likely to demonstrate a delayed gastric emptying from all diagnosed functional dyspepsia patients. We suggest that gastroparesis tends to be underdiagnosed in Asians due to a lack of studies on gastroparesis in the Asian continent, a lack of knowledge among practitioners, and poor availability of scintigraphy testing as well as limited therapeutic options for this disease. Given the high probability of Asian predominance in gastroparesis and its disease impact on quality of life, epidemiological research focusing on the Asian population is required.

Prediction, prevention and management of gastroesophageal reflux after per-oral endoscopic myotomy: An update

Achalasia cardia, the most prevalent primary esophageal motility disorder, is predominantly characterized by symptoms of dysphagia and regurgitation. The principal therapeutic approaches for achalasia encompass pneumatic dilatation (PD), Heller's myotomy, and the more recent per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). POEM has been substantiated as a safe and efficacious modality for the management of achalasia. Although POEM demonstrates superior efficacy compared to PD and an efficacy parallel to Heller's myotomy, the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) following POEM is notably higher than with the aforementioned techniques. While symptomatic reflux post-POEM is relatively infrequent, the significant occurrence of erosive esophagitis and heightened esophageal acid exposure necessitates vigilant monitoring to preclude long-term GERD-related complications. Contemporary advancements in the field have enhanced our comprehension of the risk factors, diagnostic methodologies, preventative strategies, and therapeutic management of GERD subsequent to POEM. This review focuses on the limitations inherent in the 24-h pH study for evaluating post-POEM reflux, potential modifications in the POEM technique to mitigate GERD risk, and the strategies for managing reflux following POEM.

Laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy in elderly achalasia patients: a single center experience with PSM analysis

INTRODUCTION

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder of unknown etiology. With the ageing of the general population, treatment in elderly patients has become increasingly common; however, the gold standard treatment in this population remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy (LHM) in geriatric patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, consecutive achalasia patients undergoing LHM at the University Hospital 'Federico II' of Naples from November 2018 to November 2022 were prospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups based on their age at intervention: elderly (≥70 years) and younger (<70 years). The two study groups were compared by minimizing the different distribution of covariates through a propensity score matching analysis (PSM).

RESULTS

In both populations, there was a significant improvement in terms of manometric parameters and symptoms after surgery. After applying one-on-one PSM, we obtained a total population of 48 achalasia patients divided into two groups (24 patients each). No significant differences were found in terms of demographic characteristics as well as preoperative and intraoperative variables between two groups. At 12 months from surgery, integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) was significantly lower in patients ≥ 70 years (p = 0.032), while younger patients scored significantly less at the post-operative Eckardt score (p = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy is a safe and effective treatment even in elderly patients with rapid post-operative recovery, improvement of symptoms and manometric parameters.

[A Case of Type II Achalasia Occurring in a Nonagenarian Diagnosed with Acute Food Impaction]

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by loss of esophageal peristalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. Patients with achalasia often complain of persistent symptoms for several years before diagnosis. On the other hand, achalasia diagnosed as a sudden esophageal food impaction is uncommon, and no report has been issued on the diagnosis and successful treatment of achalasia in a 95-year-old patient. We report a case of achalasia diagnosed by high-resolution esophageal manometry and timed barium esophagography after food material removal by endoscopy in a 95-year-old woman who visited the hospital due to sudden esophageal food impaction and was successfully treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation.

Conventional versus oblique fiber-sparing endoscopic myotomy for achalasia cardia: a randomized controlled trial (with videos)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

GERD is common after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Selective sparing of oblique fibers may reduce the incidence of reflux esophagitis after POEM. In this study, we compared the incidence of GERD between conventional myotomy (CM) versus oblique fiber-sparing (OFS) myotomy in patients with achalasia.

METHODS

Eligible patients with type I and II achalasia who underwent POEM from January 2020 to October 2020 were randomized into 2 groups (CM and OFS myotomy). Exclusion criteria were type III achalasia, sigmoid esophagus, and history of Heller's myotomy. The primary study outcome was incidence of reflux esophagitis (at least grade B) in the 2 groups. Secondary outcomes were reflux symptoms, esophageal acid exposure, clinical success, and adverse events.

RESULTS

One hundred fifteen patients were randomized into CM (n = 58) and OFS myotomy (n = 57) groups. POEM was technically successful in all patients. Overall, reflux esophagitis was found in 56 patients (48.7%). The incidence of at least grade B esophagitis was similar in both groups (CM vs OFS myotomy: 25.9% vs 31.6%, P = .541). The mean number of reflux episodes (48.2 ± 36.6 vs 48.9 ± 40.3, P = .933), increased esophageal acid exposure >6% (45.5% vs 31.7%, P = .266), and high DeMeester scores (38.6% vs 41.5%, P = .827) were similar in both groups. There was no difference in the rate of symptomatic reflux (GERD questionnaire score >7) or use of proton pump inhibitors at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Sparing of sling fibers has no significant impact on the incidence of significant reflux esophagitis after POEM. Novel strategies need to be explored to prevent reflux after POEM. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT04229342.).

Usefulness of nasal cavity evaluation before high-resolution esophageal manometry in high-risk patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

A catheter is inserted through the nasal cavity during high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM), which may cause adverse events such as pain or epistaxis. Despite these possible safety considerations, studies on this subject are very limited. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of nasal cavity evaluation before HRM to reduce the risk of adverse events and test failure.

METHODS

Patients who underwent HRM after consultation with the ear-nose-throat department for nasal evaluation were retrospectively enrolled between December 2021 and May 2022. The included patients had a previous history of sinonasal disease or surgery or had subjective nasal discomfort. All patients answered the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) questionnaire, and subjective nasal discomfort was scored using a visual analog scale. Nasal endoscopy and acoustic rhinometry were performed for disease evaluation and volumetric assessment.

RESULTS

The analysis included 22 patients with a mean age of 58.9 years. The mean SNOT-22 score was 24.2, and 16 patients (72.7%) complained of subjective nasal obstruction. The HRM catheter was successfully inserted in 20 patients (90.9%), without any significant adverse events. The objective measurement outcomes of acoustic rhinometry and sinus endoscopy did not always correspond to subjective symptoms. Narrowed nasal airways unresponsive to decongestants were observed in two patients with failed catheter insertion.

CONCLUSION

To reduce the risk of adverse events and test failure during HRM, a site-specific questionnaire to evaluate nasal obstruction might be helpful. When nasal obstruction is suspected, objective nasal cavity evaluation could be recommended for the safe and successful performance of HRM.

Single-Versus Multiple-Dose Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy: A Randomized Controlled Study (SMAPP Trial)

Infections are uncommon after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure. However, prophylactic antibiotics are routinely administered for variable duration during peri-operative period. In this study, we aimed to determine the difference in the rate of infections between single (SD-A) and multiple doses (MD-A) antibiotic prophylaxis groups. The study was a prospective, randomized, non-inferiority trial conducted at a single tertiary care centre from Dec 2018 to Feb 2020. Eligible patients undergoing POEM were randomized into SD-A and MD-A groups. SD-A group received one dose of antibiotic (IIIrd gen cephalosporin) within 30-min of POEM. In the MD-A group, the same antibiotic was administered for a total of three days. Primary aim of the study was to determine the incidence of infections in the two groups. Secondary outcomes included incidence of fever (> 100 °F), inflammatory markers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein(CRP)], serum procalcitonin and adverse events related to antibiotics. (NCT03784365). 114 patients were randomized to SD-A (57) and MD-A (57) antibiotic groups. Mean post-POEM CRP (0.8 ± 0.9 vs 1.5 ± 1.6), ESR (15.8 ± 7.8 20.6 ± 11.7) and procalcitonin (0.05 ± 0.04 0.29 ± 0.58) were significantly higher after POEM (p = 0.001). Post-POEM inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP and procalcitonin) were similar in both the groups. Fever on day-0 (10.5% vs 14%) and day-1 (1.7% vs 3.5%) was detected in similar proportion of patients. Post-POEM infections were recorded in 3.5% (1.7% vs 5.3%, p = 0.618). Single dose of antibiotic is non-inferior to multiple dose antibiotic prophylaxis. Elevation of inflammatory markers and fever after POEM represents inflammation and does not predict infection after POEM.

Case of Concomitant Endoscopic Treatment of Achalasia with Superficial Esophageal Cancer

Achalasia, a rare motility disorder of the esophagus, is generally accepted as a premalignant disorder. This paper presents the case of a 72-year-old male with achalasia and synchronous superficial esophageal cancer who experienced dysphagia symptoms for five years. As achalasia is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, both can be treated simultaneously if detected at the time of diagnosis. Achalasia and synchronous esophageal cancer are rarely detected and treated endoscopically. This paper reports a case of concurrent successful treatment.

Incidence, Morbidity, and Mortality of Achalasia: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study in South Korea

Background/Aims

Although an association between achalasia and esophageal cancer has been reported, whether achalasia confers a substantial increase in mortality is unknown. Moreover, the causes of death related to achalasia have not been investigated. We performed this nationwide, population-based cohort study on achalasia because no such study has been performed since the introduction of high-resolution manometry in 2008.

Methods

This study was performed using data extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, covering a 9-year period from 2009 to 2017. Control participants without a diagnostic code for achalasia were randomly selected and matched by sex and birth year at a case-to-control ratio of 1:4. Data on the cause of death from Statistics Korea were also analyzed.

Results

The overall incidence of achalasia was 0.68 per 100,000 person-years, and the prevalence was 6.46 per 100,000 population. Patients with achalasia (n=3,063) had significantly higher adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for esophageal cancer (aHR, 3.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 9.22; p=0.017), pneumonia (aHR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.89 to 2.81; p<0.001), aspiration pneumonia (aHR, 3.92; 95% CI, 2.38 to 6.48; p<0.001), and mortality (aHR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.44 to 1.94; p<0.001). Esophageal cancer carried the highest mortality risk (aHR, 8.82; 95% CI, 2.35 to 33.16; p=0.001), while pneumonia had the highest non-cancer mortality risk (aHR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.96; p=0.004).

Conclusions

In this nationwide study, achalasia was associated with increased risk of mortality. Esophageal cancer and pneumonia were the most common comorbidities and the major causes of death in patients with achalasia.

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy in cases with prior Heller's myotomy: Outcomes at a median follow-up of 5 years

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an established treatment for achalasia cardia. However, data on the long-term efficacy of POEM in patients with failed Heller's myotomy (HM) are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of POEM in patients with persistent or recurrent symptoms following HM.

METHODS

Data of patients with recurrence of symptoms after HM who underwent POEM (September 2013 to December 2022) were analyzed, retrospectively. Primary outcome was clinical success [Eckardt score (ES) ≤ 3]. Secondary outcomes included improvement of manometry parameters, barium emptying at 5 min and gastroesophageal reflux (esophagitis and increased esophageal acid exposure) after POEM.

RESULTS

Seventy-two cases (45.9 ± 13.4 years, 43 men) with history of HM were included in the study. The subtypes of achalasia were type 1 (40.3%), type 2 (37.5%), and unknown (19.4%). Prior treatment included HM in 48 (66.7%), HM plus pneumatic dilatation in 20 (27.8%), and HM plus pneumatic dilatation and Botox in 4 (5.5%). Technical success was achieved in all cases. Mean length of myotomy was 10.7 ± 3.3 cm, and mean procedure duration was 59.2 ± 25.9 min. There was significant improvement in ES (pre-POEM 6.5 ± 1.8 vs post-POEM 0.7 ± 0.7), lower esophageal sphincter pressure pressures (31.7 ± 12.5 vs 13.3 ± 5.7 mmHg) and barium emptying (14.2 ± 4.2 vs 2.4 ± 3.1 cm) after POEM. At a median follow-up of 63 months (IQR 40-95), clinical success (ES ≤ 3) was documented in 58 (80.6%) patients. Reflux esophagitis and increased esophageal acid exposure were recorded in 28 of 49 (57.1%) and 11 of 20 (55%) patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

POEM is a durable treatment modality in cases with relapse of symptoms after HM.

High-resolution impedance manometry for comparing bolus transit between patients with non-obstructive dysphagia and asymptomatic controls

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are no high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM)-based diagnostic criteria for non-obstructive dysphagia (NOD). New impedance parameters, such as the esophageal impedance integral (EII) and volume of inverted impedance (VII) ratios, have shown strong correlations with bolus transit. This study compared the EII and VII ratios as diagnostic tools for NOD.

METHODS

We analyzed 36 participants (12 patients with achalasia, 12 patients with NOD [7 with normal motility and 5 with ineffective esophageal motility], and 12 asymptomatic controls) who underwent HRIM with a maximum of 5 swallows per participant. The EII and VII ratios were calculated as Z2 (post-swallow)/Z1 (pre-swallow). Bolus transit was retrospectively evaluated using transluminal impedance analysis.

KEY RESULTS

Both EII and VII ratios could effectively distinguish the achalasia group from the non-achalasia groups (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]: 0.83 for VII vs. 0.80 for EII; p = 0.73). However, the VII ratio was significantly better in discriminating asymptomatic controls from patients with dysphagia (NOD + achalasia) (AUROC: 0.81 vs. 0.68; p = 0.01). Moreover, the VII ratio was better in discriminating asymptomatic controls from patients with NOD (AUROC: 0.68 vs. 0.51; p = 0.06). In repeated swallows, the VII ratio was consistently the lowest in controls and the highest in patients with achalasia, whereas the EII ratio did not show a consistent pattern.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

The VII ratio was more reliable than the EII ratio for describing bolus transit and distinguishing patients with NOD from asymptomatic controls, even during repeated measures of subsequent swallows.

Pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment progress of achalasia of cardia

Achalasia cardia, type of esophageal dynamic disorder, is a relatively rare primary motor esophageal disease characterized by the functional loss of plexus ganglion cells in the distal esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter. Loss of function of the distal and lower esophageal sphincter ganglion cells is the main cause of achalasia cardia, and is more likely to occur in the elderly. Histological changes in the esophageal mucosa are considered pathogenic; however, studies have found that inflammation and genetic changes at the molecular level may also cause achalasia cardia, resulting in dysphagia, reflux, aspiration, retrosternal pain, and weight loss. Currently, the treatment options for achalasia focus on reducing the resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, helping to empty the esophagus and relieve symptoms. Treatment measures include botulinum toxin injection, inflatable dilation, stent insertion, and surgical myotomy (open or laparoscopic). Surgical procedures are often subject to controversy owing to concerns about safety and effectiveness, particularly in older patients. Herein, we review clinical epidemiological and experimental data to determine the prevalence, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options for achalasia to support its clinical management.

Long-term Outcome of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy in Esophageal Motility Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an established treatment for achalasia. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to analyze the mid and long-term outcomes of POEM in esophageal motility disorders.

METHODS

Literature search was performed in databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane databases, and Google scholar from January 2010 to May 2021. The primary objective of the study was the clinical success (Eckardt score ≤3 or <4) at mid-term (30 to 60 mo) and long-term (>60 mo) follow-up after POEM. Secondary objectives included post-POEM gastroesophageal reflux (GER) as evaluated by symptoms, increased esophageal acid exposure, and reflux esophagitis.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies with 3591 patients were included in the review. Subtypes of motility disorders were type I (27%), type II (54.5%), type III (10.7%), distal esophageal spasm/Jackhammer esophagus (2%), and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (17.5%). Pooled mean follow-up duration was 48.9 months (95% CI, 40.02-57.75). Pooled rate of clinical success at mid-term follow-up was 87% (95% CI, 81-91; I2 , 86%) and long-term was 84% (95% CI, 76-89; I2 , 47%). In nonachalasia motility disorders (esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, distal esophageal spasm, and Jackhammer esophagus), pooled rate of clinical success was 77% (95% CI, 65-85; I2 , 0%). GER as estimated by symptoms was 23% (95% CI, 19-27; I2 , 74%), erosive esophagitis was 27% (95% CI, 18-38%; I2 , 91%), and increased esophageal acid exposure was 41% (95% CI, 30-52; I2 , 88%).

CONCLUSION

POEM is a durable treatment option in cases with achalasia. One-fourth of patients suffer from erosive GER in the long-term and success rates are lower in nonachalasia esophageal motility disorders.

Surveillance Endoscopy After Foregut Surgery: Is It Necessary?

Patients undergoing foregut surgeries can have de novo findings or worsening of underlying upper gastrointestinal pathologies including Barrett’s esophagus and gastric intestinal metaplasia. These changes carry a potentially increased risk for malignancy development in the future raising the question of the utility of post-operative surveillance endoscopy after esophagectomy, bariatric and metabolic surgeries (Sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass), achalasia treatment, and anti-reflux surgery. In this narrative review, we conduct a literature exploration of available data on post-operative endoscopic surveillance findings following the procedures summarizing the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal pathologies and recommendations on the utility of postoperative endoscopy from established medical societies.

The outcome of primary per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for treatment of achalasia: Norwegian single-center experience with long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become an established treatment for achalasia, but no Scandinavian studies with long-term follow-up exist. This study from a tertiary referral center in Norway investigates the short-, mid-, and long-term feasibility, safety, efficacy, and complications of POEM.

METHODS

Prospective data from the first 84 patients who underwent POEM from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed. The median follow-up time was 44 months. Clinical success was defined as the Eckardt score (ES) ⩽3, and reflux as pathological if the acid exposure time (pH < 4) was more than 6%. ES was used for symptom evaluation before, and at 6, 12, and up to 64 months after POEM.

RESULTS

A total of 50 males and 34 females were included. A total of 43 (51%) were treatment naïve, 24 (28.6%) had been previously treated with botulinum toxin, pneumatic balloon dilatation, or both, and 17 (20.2%) were previously treated with Heller's myotomy. The median post-POEM ES at 12 months was 1 (0-9), compared to pre-POEM 7 (4-12) (p < 0.01). At 12 months after POEM, clinical success persisted in 74 patients (88.1%). Clinical success was the highest for patients who were naïve to treatment, 41/43 (95%), and lower for those previously treated with Heller's myotomy 12/17 (70.6%). Long-term follow-up at 5-6 years of 42 patients showed a clinical success rate of 94%. We experienced adverse events in five patients (6%). Post-POEM pathological reflux was found in 46% (28/61). After 3-4 years, the median ES was 1, and after 5-6 years, it was 2.

CONCLUSION

POEM was safe and relieved the symptoms of achalasia significantly and persistently. The procedure had a better outcome in treatment naïve than previously treated patients. However, POEM is associated with significantly increased esophageal acid exposure.

TWITTER SUMMARY

Norwegian single-center study: POEM had a clinical success rate of 94% after 5-6 years since its introduction at the center in 2014, providing a safe and effective treatment for achalasia.

Role of Endoscopy in Motility Disorders of Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Gastrointestinal motility disorders have a wide range of symptoms and affect patients' quality of life. With the advancement of endoscopy, the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of endoscopy in motility disorders is becoming more significant. Endoscopy is necessary to rule out possible organic diseases in patients with suspected motility disorders and provide significant clues for their diagnosis. Moreover, interventional endoscopy may be a primary or alternative treatment option for selected patients with motility disorders, and it is becoming a promising field as new therapeutic applications are developed and utilized for various motility disorders. This review may provide suitable indications for the use of endoscopy in diagnosing and treating motility disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

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.

Submucosal endoscopy: the present and future

Submucosal endoscopy or third-space endoscopy utilizes the potential space between the mucosal and muscularis layers of the gastrointestinal tract to execute therapeutic interventions for various diseases. Over the last decade, endoscopic access to the submucosal space has revolutionized the field of therapeutic endoscopy. Submucosal endoscopy was originally used to perform endoscopic myotomy in patients with achalasia cardia, and its use has grown exponentially since. Currently, submucosal endoscopy is widely used to resect subepithelial tumors and to manage refractory gastroparesis and Zenker's diverticulum. While the utility of submucosal endoscopy has stood the test of time in esophageal motility disorders and subepithelial tumors, its durability remains to be established in conditions such as Zenker's diverticulum and refractory gastroparesis. Other emerging indications for submucosal endoscopy include esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum, Hirschsprung's disease, and esophageal strictures not amenable to conventional endoscopic treatment. The potential of submucosal endoscopy to provide easy and safe access to the mediastinum and peritoneal spaces may open doors to novel indications and rejuvenate the interest of endoscopists in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in the future. This review focuses on the current spectrum, recent updates, and future direction of submucosal endoscopy in the gastrointestinal tract.

Evaluation of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of achalasia

Due to the unclear quality of the current guidelines, users may be confused about how to diagnose and treat achalasia. The objective of this work is to systematically evaluate the methodological quality of the current guidelines for diagnosing and treating achalasia and to determine the heterogeneity among recommendations. We systematically searched literature databases to retrieve relevant guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of achalasia. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included guidelines. Key recommendations in the guidelines were extracted, and the reasons for the heterogeneity of the key recommendations between different guidelines were further analyzed. Seven guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of achalasia are included in this study. The overall score of three guidelines exceeded 60%. The average score in domain 5 was the lowest, at 41.8%. The average scores in domain 2, domain 3, and domain 6 were also low, at 45.4%, 57.1% and 56.9%, respectively. The main recommendations and quality of evidence for different guidelines vary greatly, mainly due to the different emphases among different guidelines, the lack of systematic retrieval, or the unfairness of evidence use in some guidelines. There are considerable differences in the methodological quality of diagnosis and treatment guidelines for achalasia. Additionally, the differences in the main recommendations and evidence support among guidelines are also obvious. Guideline developers should improve the above related factors to decrease the heterogeneity, and they should further formulate or update the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of achalasia.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy vs laparoscopic myotomy and partial fundoplication for esophageal achalasia: A single-center randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Achalasia is a rare benign esophageal motor disorder characterized by incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The treatment of achalasia is not curative, but rather is aimed at reducing LES pressure. In patients who have failed noninvasive therapy, surgery should be considered. Myotomy with partial fundoplication has been considered the first-line treatment for non-advanced achalasia. Recently, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a technique that employs the principles of submucosal endoscopy to perform the equivalent of a surgical myotomy, has emerged as a promising minimally invasive technique for the management of this condition.

AIM

To compare POEM and laparoscopic myotomy and partial fundoplication (LM-PF) regarding their efficacy and outcomes for the treatment of achalasia.

METHODS

Forty treatment-naive adult patients who had been diagnosed with achalasia based on clinical and manometric criteria (dysphagia score ≥ II and Eckardt score > 3) were randomized to undergo either LM-PF or POEM. The outcome measures were anesthesia time, procedure time, symptom improvement, reflux esophagitis (as determined with the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire), barium column height at 1 and 5 min (on a barium esophagogram), pressure at the LES, the occurrence of adverse events (AEs), length of stay (LOS), and quality of life (QoL).

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between the LM-PF and POEM groups regarding symptom improvement at 1, 6, and 12 mo of follow-up (P = 0.192, P = 0.242, and P = 0.242, respectively). However, the rates of reflux esophagitis at 1, 6, and 12 mo of follow-up were significantly higher in the POEM group (P = 0.014, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002, respectively). There were also no statistical differences regarding the manometry values, the occurrence of AEs, or LOS. Anesthesia time and procedure time were significantly shorter in the POEM group than in the LM-PF group (185.00 ± 56.89 and 95.70 ± 30.47 min vs 296.75 ± 56.13 and 218.75 ± 50.88 min, respectively; P = 0.001 for both). In the POEM group, there were improvements in all domains of the QoL questionnaire, whereas there were improvements in only three domains in the LM-PF group.

CONCLUSION

POEM and LM-PF appear to be equally effective in controlling the symptoms of achalasia, shortening LOS, and minimizing AEs. Nevertheless, POEM has the advantage of improving all domains of QoL, and shortening anesthesia and procedure times but with a significantly higher rate of gastroesophageal reflux.

Impact of modified techniques on outcomes of peroral endoscopic myotomy: A narrative review

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an established frontline treatment modality for achalasia cardia. Since its initial description, several modifications have been proposed to the technique of POEM. Broadly speaking, these modifications follow the basic principles of submucosal endoscopy, but incorporate variations in the POEM technique, including the difference in the orientation of myotomy (anterior or posterior), length of myotomy (short or long), and thickness of myotomy (selective circular or full thickness). Some of these modifications have been shown to reduce procedural duration without compromising the efficacy of the POEM procedure. More recently, several alterations have been reported that intend to reduce gastroesophageal reflux after POEM. These include preservation of sling fibers during posterior POEM and addition of NOTES fundoplication to the POEM procedure. Although some of the modified techniques have been compared with the conventional techniques in quality trials, randomized studies are awaited for others. The incorporation of some of these modifications will likely make POEM a technically easy and safer modality in near future. This review aims to discuss the current evidence with regard to the impact of modified techniques on the outcome of POEM.

Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes, Recurrent Dysphagia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux After Per-oral Endoscopic Myotomy in Esophageal Motility Disorders

BACKGROUND

There is limited data on long-term outcomes of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). In this study, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of POEM in patients who completed a minimum follow-up of 5 years.

METHODS

Data of patients who underwent POEM and completed ≥ 5-year follow-up were analyzed, retrospectively. Primary outcome of study was clinical success (Eckardt ≤ 3) at ≥ 5 years after POEM. Secondary outcomes included predictors of dysphagia and symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on long-term follow-up.

RESULTS

Three hundred nineteen patients (males 182, mean age 40.5 ± 14.2 years) completed a median of 73-(60-89) month follow-up. Esophageal motility disorders included idiopathic achalasia (type I 26.6%, type II 60.8%, type III 5.6%) and Jackhammer esophagus or distal esophageal spasm (2.8%). POEM was technically successful in 307 (96.2%) patients. Long-term success was 92.6% (overall), 92.1% (type I), 94.7% (type II), 87.5% (type III), and 75% (Jackhammer esophagus/distal esophageal spasm). Symptomatic GERD and reflux esophagitis were detected in 28.9% and 35.3% patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis, young age and female gender were independent risk factors for recurrent dysphagia (p = 0.037) and symptomatic GERD after POEM (p = 0.025), respectively. Lower post-POEM lower esophageal sphincter pressure was an independent predictor for reflux esophagitis (p = 0.016).

CONCLUSION

POEM is an effective and durable treatment for achalasia and non-achalasia spastic motility disorders. Young patients and females may be at higher risk for recurrent dysphagia and symptomatic GERD, respectively.

Short versus long esophageal myotomy during peroral endoscopic myotomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative trials

BACKGROUND

: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an established modality of treatment for achalasia cardia. Considerable variations exist in the technique of POEM with respect to the length and orientation of the myotomy. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we compared the outcomes of short versus long myotomy during POEM.

METHODS

: We searched multiple databases from January 2010 to March 2021 to identify studies reporting on POEM. We selected studies that reported on comparative outcomes of POEM using short versus long myotomy. We performed a comparative analysis of clinical success, procedural duration, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and adverse events with short and long myotomy in POEM by meta-analysis.

RESULTS

: A total of 521 patients from five studies in which 241 patients were treated with short and 280 patients with long myotomy approaches were analyzed. The pooled rate for clinical success gave an odds ratio (OR) of 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-3.26; I2 = 0; P = 0.62); for hospital stay OR 0.22 (95% CI - 0.03 to 0.46; I2 = 0; P = 0.08); for GERD by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) OR 0.58 (95% CI 0.31-1.07; I2 = 0; P = 0.08), and for adverse events OR 0.67 (95% CI 0.29-1.53; I2 = 51; P = 0.34). Abnormal esophageal acid exposure was less frequent with OR 0.45 (95% CI 0.22-0.90; P = 0.02; I2 = 0) and the procedure duration was significantly shorter in the short myotomy group with OR - 0.76 (95% CI - 1.00 to - 0.52; I2 = 43; P =0.001).

CONCLUSION

: Short myotomy and long myotomy in POEM seem comparable with each other in terms of clinical success and adverse events. Short myotomy is associated with significantly shorter procedural duration and possibly reduced esophageal acid exposure compared with long myotomy.

Esophageal Achalasia: From Laparoscopic to Robotic Heller Myotomy and Dor Fundoplication

Objective:

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication has become the gold standard in treating esophageal achalasia and robotic surgical platform represents its natural evolution. The objective of our study was to assess durable long-term clinical outcomes in our cohort.

Methods and Procedures:

Between June 1, 1999 and June 30, 2019, 111 patients underwent minimally invasive treatment for achalasia (96 laparoscopically and 15 robotically). Fifty-two were males. Mean age was 49 years (20 – 96). Esophageal manometry confirmed the diagnosis. Fifty patients underwent pH monitoring study, with pathologic reflux in 18. Preoperative esophageal dilation was performed in 76 patients and 21 patients received botulin injection. Dysphagia was universally present, and mean duration was 96 months (5 – 480).

Results:

Median operative time was 144 minutes (90 – 200). One patient required conversion to open approach. Four mucosal perforations occurred in the laparoscopic group and were repaired intraoperatively. Seven patients underwent completion esophageal myotomy and added Dor fundoplication. Upper gastrointestinal series was performed before discharge. Median hospital stay was 39 hours (24 – 312). Median follow up was 157 months (6 – 240), and dysphagia was resolved in 94% of patients. Seven patients required postoperative esophageal dilation.

Conclusions:

Minimally invasive Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication are feasible. The operation is challenging, but excellent results hinge on the operative techniques and experience. The high dexterity, three-dimensional view, and the ergonomic movements of robotic surgery allow application of all the technical elements, achieving the best durable outcome for the patient. Robotic surgery is the natural evolution of minimally invasive treatment of esophageal achalasia.

A Comparative Assessment of the Diagnosis of Swallowing Impairment and Gastroesophageal Reflux in Canines and Humans

Swallowing impairment is a highly prevalent and clinically significant problem affecting people and dogs. There are myriad causes of swallowing impairment of which gastroesophageal reflux is the most common in both species. Similarities in anatomy and physiology between humans and canines results in analogous swallowing disorders including cricopharyngeus muscle achalasia, esophageal achalasia, hiatal herniation, and gastroesophageal reflux with secondary esophagitis and esophageal dysmotility. Accordingly, the diagnostic approach to human and canine patients with swallowing impairment is similar. Diagnostic procedures such as swallowing fluoroscopy, high-resolution manometry, pH/impedance monitoring, and endolumenal functional luminal imaging probe can be performed in both species; however, nasofacial conformation, increased esophageal length, and the difficulty of completing several of these procedures in awake dogs are inherent challenges that need to be considered. Human patients can convey their symptoms and respond to verbal cues, whereas veterinarians must rely on clinical histories narrated by pet owners followed by comprehensive physical examination and observation of the animal eating different food consistencies and drinking water. Dogs may also be unwilling to drink or eat in the hospital setting and may be resistant to physical restraint during diagnostic procedures. Despite the species differences and diagnostic challenges, dogs are a natural animal model for many oropharyngeal and esophageal disorders affecting people, which presents a tremendous opportunity for shared learnings. This manuscript reviews the comparative aspects of esophageal anatomy and physiology between humans and canines, summarizes the diagnostic assessment of swallowing impairment in both species, and discusses future considerations for collaborative medicine and translational research.

The comparisons of different therapeutic modalities for idiopathic achalasia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

: Current guidelines recommend per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and laparoscopic Heller's myotomy (LHM) as first-line treatment of idiopathic achalasia, but the optimum choice between different endoscopic and surgical modalities remains inconclusive. We conducted a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of 8 treatments for idiopathic achalasia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

: Three major bibliographic databases were reviewed for enrollment of randomized controlled trials between January 2000 and June 2021. We included adults with idiopathic achalasia and compared two or more of eight interventions including botulinum toxin injection (BTI), pneumatic dilation (PD), BTI + PD, LHM without fundoplication, LHM followed with Dor or Toupet fundoplication, and POEM using either the anterior or posterior approach. Our focus was on clinical success rate, postsurgical acid reflux, and moderate-to-severe adverse events.

RESULTS

: Twenty-four studies involved a total of 1987 participants for analysis. When compared with PD, POEM with anterior approach, POEM with posterior approach, LHM + Toupet, and LHM + Dor were all significantly superior to the other regimens in short-term efficacy, with POEM with anterior approach and LHM + Dor showing better improvement in mid-term efficacy. BTI showed a significantly lower efficacy than PD in both periods. Regarding safety, only LHM without fundoplication was significantly associated with higher acid reflux than PD, while LHM + Toupet, LHM without fundoplication, and LHM + Dor showed a non-significant increase in moderate-to-severe adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

: For idiopathic achalasia, we suggest that POEM with an anterior or posterior approach and LHM with Dor or Toupet fundoplication be initially recommended. On the contrary, both LHM without fundoplication and BTI are not recommended as definitive therapy.

Symptomatic and Physiological Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy for Achalasia Cardia: Is There a Correlation?

BACKGROUND

Symptomatic evaluation using Eckardt score and achalasia-specific health-related quality-of-life and physiological evaluation using timed barium examination (TBE) and high-resolution manometry is integral to the diagnosis of achalasia. However, the correlation of physiological outcomes with symptomatic outcomes and their role in routine follow-up after laparoscopic Heller cardiomyotomy (LHCM) is controversial. In this study, we evaluated the role of physiological testing in achalasia patients undergoing LHCM and its correlation with symptomatic evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Case records of patients undergoing LHCM for achalasia between January 2017 and March 2020 were reviewed for symptom scores (Eckardt score and achalasia-specific health-related quality-of-life) and physiological parameters [5-min column height on TBE and median integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) on high-resolution manometry]. Sixty-one patients with complete data in the preoperative period and on follow-up were included in the study. The data was analyzed for symptomatic and physiological outcomes and their correlation using paired t test and the Spearman correlation test.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 16 months following LHCM, there was a significant improvement in Eckardt score (7.03±1.53 to 0.93±1.10, P<0.001), achalasia-specific health-related quality-of-life (58.34±7.81 to 14.57±13.45, P<0.001), column height on TBE (115.14±46.9 to 27.89±34.31, P<0.001) and IRP (23.95±8.26 to 4.61±4.11, P<0.001). Eckardt score correlated significantly with achalasia-specific health-related quality-of-life scores preoperatively (ρ=0.410, P<0.001) and on follow-up (ρ=0.559, P<0.001). There was no correlation between symptomatic parameters and physiological parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients of achalasia, LHCM leads to significant improvement in symptomatic and physiological parameters. Symptom scores correlate among themselves but not with physiological scores. Thus, physiological testing may not be needed for routine follow-up.

Achalasia

Achalasia is a rare disorder of the oesophageal smooth muscle characterized by impaired relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) and absent or spastic contractions in the oesophageal body. The key pathophysiological mechanism is loss of inhibitory nerve function that probably results from an autoimmune attack targeting oesophageal myenteric nerves through cell-mediated and, possibly, antibody-mediated mechanisms. Achalasia incidence and prevalence increase with age, but the disorder can affect all ages and both sexes. Cardinal symptoms consist of dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain and weight loss. Several years can pass between symptom onset and an achalasia diagnosis. Evaluation starts with endoscopy to rule out structural causes, followed by high-resolution manometry and/or barium radiography. Functional lumen imaging probe can provide complementary evidence. Achalasia subtypes have management and prognostic implications. Although symptom questionnaires are not useful for diagnosis, the Eckardt score is a simple symptom scoring scale that helps to quantify symptom response to therapy. Oral pharmacotherapy is not particularly effective. Botulinum toxin injection into the LES can temporize symptoms and function as a bridge to definitive therapy. Pneumatic dilation, per-oral endoscopic myotomy and laparoscopic Heller myotomy can provide durable symptom benefit. End-stage achalasia with a dilated, non-functioning oesophagus may require oesophagectomy or enteral feeding into the stomach. Long-term complications can, rarely, include oesophageal cancer, but surveillance recommendations have not been established.

Management of pulmonary aspiration due to undiagnosed achalasia during induction of general anesthesia: a case report with literature review - A case report -

Background

Intraoperative pulmonary aspiration is a rare but potentially fatal complication associated with various risk factors. Preoperative recognition of these risk factors can prevent aspiration events during general anesthesia or facilitate prompt corrective measures in patients experiencing this complication.

Case

A 70-year-old female patient with hypertension underwent bilateral total knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia. Despite using a midnight nothing-per-oral (NPO) protocol, an unpredictable intraoperative aspiration event occurred during anesthesia induction. A detailed evaluation of the patient’s medical history and subsequent diagnostic imaging examinations indicated achalasia. She was treated for aspiration pneumonia for 2 weeks. After 2 months, rescheduled total knee arthroplasty was performed under spinal anesthesia without any complications.

Conclusions

Obtaining the patient’s medical history and assessing the risk factors are important to prevent unpredictable intraoperative pulmonary aspiration. High-risk patients should undergo adequate preoperative fasting and regional anesthesia or rapid-sequence intubation should be considered for safe induction of general anesthesia.

[Chicago Classification ver. 4.0: Diagnosis of Achalasia and Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction]

Achalasia is a common esophageal motility disorder characterized by inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and a loss of normal peristalsis in the esophageal body. The newly suggested Chicago Classification ver. 4.0 recommends conclusive diagnoses of types 1, 2, and 3. A conclusive diagnosis of type 3 achalasia requires no appreciable peristalsis compared to the previously used ver. 3.0. In the case of inconclusive diagnosis of achalasia, additional tests, including timed barium esophagogram (TBE) or functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP), are strongly recommended in ver. 4.0. Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) in Chicago Classification ver. 3.0 was defined as an elevated median integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) without evidence of achalasia. On the other hand, the diagnosis of EGJOO in Chicago Classification ver. 4.0 requires elevated IRP in both positions, elevated intrabolus pressure, positive clinical symptoms, and additional positive test by TBE or FLIP. The newly suggested Chicago Classification Classification ver. 4.0 will be helpful in an accurate diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders, including achalasia and EGJOO.

Graded pneumatic dilation in subtype I and II achalasia: long-term experience in a single center

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of pneumatic dilation (PD) in the management of achalasia has yielded variable results. The availability of high-resolution manometry led to the identification of 3 clinically relevant subtypes of achalasia, revealing the poor efficacy of PD in subtype III. Furthermore, PD showed a lower response rate in patients with subtype III compared to laparoscopic Heller myotomy and peroral endoscopic myotomy. This study aimed to investigate the short- and long-term efficacy, safety profile and side effects of PD with a "graded approach" in subtypes I and II achalasia.

METHODS

We enrolled 141 patients (male 67, mean age=66±16.26 years) with achalasia (n=27 subtype I, n=74 subtype II and n=40 subtype III) between January 2010 and July 2020 at St. Orsola University Hospital, Bologna, Italy. We analyzed the data of patients with subtypes I and II, who underwent a graded-protocol PD. Short- and long-term clinical efficacy, complications and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were recorded.

RESULTS

One month after graded protocol PD, 100% subtype I and 96.2% subtype II achalasia patients showed clinical remission. The PD procedure was completed without major complications in all patients. In the long-term follow up (median time: 56 months), 95.5% subtype I and 90% subtype II achalasia patients had an Eckardt score ≤3. GERD occurred in 27.7% of all patients.

CONCLUSION

A graded-protocol PD applied in the appropriate achalasia subtypes was shown to be a safe and highly effective approach, in both the short- and long-term.

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.

Third-Space Endoscopy: Recent Updates

Third space or submucosal space is a potential space which on expansion allows the endoscopist to execute a multitude of therapeutic procedures for various gastrointestinal diseases like achalasia, subepithelial tumors, Zenker’s diverticulum, and refractory gastroparesis. Third space was first utilized for performing endoscopic myotomy in cases with achalasia cardia about a decade ago. Since then, the field of submucosal endoscopy has witnessed an exponential growth. The present review focuses on recent advances in the field of third-space endoscopy. With regard to per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in achalasia cardia, several recent studies have evaluated the long-term outcomes of POEM, compared endoscopic myotomy with pneumatic dilatation (PD) and surgical myotomy, and evaluated the outcomes of short- versus long-esophageal myotomy. In addition, the utility of multiple dose antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infections after POEM has been questioned. Overall, the results from these studies indicate that POEM is a durable treatment modality, equally effective to Heller’s myotomy and superior to PD. With regard to gastric-POEM (G-POEM), recent studies suggest only modest efficacy in cases with refractory gastroparesis. Therefore, quality studies are required to identify predictors of response to optimize the outcomes of G-POEM in these cases. Another third-space endoscopy procedure that has gained popularity is endoscopic division of septum in cases with esophageal diverticula including Zenker’s POEM and epiphrenic diverticula POEM (Z-POEM and D-POEM, respectively). The technique of diverticulotomy using the principles of submucosal endoscopy appears safe and effective in short term. Data on term outcomes are awaited and comparative trials with flexible endoscopic myotomy required. Per-rectal endoscopic myotomy (PREM) is the most recent addition to third space endoscopy procedures for the management of short-segment Hirschsprung’s disease. Limited data suggest that PREM may be a promising alternative surgery in these cases. However, quality studies with long-term follow-up are required to validate the outcomes of PREM.

2020 Seoul Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which gastric contents regurgitate into the esophagus or beyond, resulting in either troublesome symptoms or complications. GERD is heterogeneous in terms of varied manifestations, test findings, and treatment responsiveness. GERD diagnosis can be established with symptomatology, pathology, or physiology. Recently the Lyon consensus defined the "proven GERD" with concrete evidence for reflux, including advanced grade erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles classification grades C and or D esophagitis), long-segment Barrett's mucosa or peptic strictures on endoscopy or distal esophageal acid exposure time > 6% on 24-hour ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring. However, some Asian researchers have different opinions on whether the same standards should be applied to the Asian population. The prevalence of GERD is increasing in Asia. The present evidence-based guidelines were developed using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. In GERD with typical symptoms, a proton pump inhibitor test can be recommended as a sensitive, cost-effective, and practical test for GERD diagnosis. Based on a meta-analysis of 19 estimated acid-exposure time values in Asians, the reference range upper limit for esophageal acid exposure time was 3.2% (95% confidence interval, 2.7-3.9%) in the Asian countries. Esophageal manometry and novel impedance measurements, including mucosal impedance and a post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave, are promising in discrimination of GERD among different reflux phenotypes, thus increasing its diagnostic yield. We also propose a long-term strategy of evidence-based GERD treatment with proton pump inhibitors and other drugs.

Impact on sleeve gastrectomy in patients with esophageal motor disorder

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal motor disorders (EMD) are frequent conditions among patients with obesity. The effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on esophageal function can worsen GERD, but little is known about its effects on EMD and the consequences of preexisting EMD on GERD after SG.

OBJECTIVES

To study the postoperative outcomes of SG in a population of patients displaying preexisting EMD.

SETTING

University Hospital, France.

METHODS

Patients with EMD confirmed by high-resolution manometry who underwent a laparoscopic SG between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively included in this monocenter study. GERD symptoms and high-resolution manometry results were recorded before surgery and during follow-up. Conversion to gastric bypass were also recorded.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients were included. Mean age was 52.6 ± 12.9 years. Most patients were female (70%). EMD were achalasia (19% of patients), hypercontractile (22%), hypocontractile (30%) and nutcracker esophagus (22%), and ineffective esophageal motility (8%). GERD symptoms were present in 10 patients (27%) preoperatively and 18 (49%) postoperatively. Achalasia was not resolved after SG and was constantly associated with disabling food blockage or GERD symptoms after surgery, and 3 of 4 patients with nutcracker esophagus had postoperative GERD symptoms and underwent gastric bypass.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the largest to describe the course of GERD and EMD after SG in patients displaying preoperative EMD. Achalasia and nutcracker esophagus are associated with poorer postoperative outcomes, and another procedure such as a gastric bypass should be performed.