Effects of preoperative endoscopic pneumatic balloon dilatation on postoperative achalasia symptoms after Heller esophageal myotomy plus Dor fundoplication

Robotic esophagomyotomy for achalasia: technical note and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

The treatment of achalasia has undergone continuous evolution with the advancement of technology. Since the beginning of the new millennium, the employment of robotics has led to technical facilitation with the execution of the myotomy and consequently to improvement of outcomes and decrease perioperative morbidity.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We provide a detailed description of the surgical procedure and the perioperative management together with a literature search of Electronic PubMed/Medline database and Cochrane Library. English written studies on robotic assisted myotomy (case reports, reviews, single arm and comparative studies) were included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Between 2001 and 2020, 10 case reports, 13 single arm studies, 10 comparative studies, 2 meta-analysis, 11 reviews and 2 technical notes on robotic assisted esophagomyotomy for achalasia were published.

CONCLUSIONS

As reported by the studies available in the literature and evaluated in this manuscript, robotic assisted cardiomyotomy seems not only feasible but also a safer operation compared with traditional laparoscopic Heller myotomy, due to a significant lower incidence of intraoperative esophageal perforation. Also if large and randomized controlled studies are advocated, robotic assisted esophagocardiomyotomy might be considered superior to laparoscopic Heller myotomy that, until now, is mostly considered the gold standard in the surgical treatment of achalasia.

Updated Systematic Review of Achalasia, with a Focus on POEM Therapy

AIM

To systematically review clinical presentation, diagnosis, and therapy of achalasia, focusing on recent developments in high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) for diagnosis and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for therapy.

METHODS

Systematic review of achalasia using computerized literature search via PubMed and Ovid of articles published since 2005 with keywords ("achalasia") AND ("high resolution" or "HREM" or "peroral endoscopic myotomy" or "POEM"). Two authors independently performed literature searches and incorporated articles into this review by consensus according to prospectively determined criteria.

RESULTS

Achalasia is an uncommon esophageal motility disorder, usually manifested by dysphagia to solids and liquids, and sometimes manifested by chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss. Symptoms often suggest more common disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), thus often delaying diagnosis. Achalasia is a predominantly idiopathic chronic disease. Diagnosis is typically suggested by barium swallow showing esophageal dilation; absent distal esophageal peristalsis; smoothly tapered narrowing ("bird's beak") at esophagogastric junction; and delayed passage of contrast into stomach. Diagnostic findings at high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) include: distal esophageal aperistalsis and integrated relaxation pressure (trough LES pressure during 4 s) > 15 mmHg. Achalasia is classified by HREM into: type 1 classic; type 2 compartmentalized high pressure in esophageal body, and type 3 spastic. This classification impacts therapeutic decisions. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is required before therapy to assess esophagus and esophagogastric junction and to exclude distal esophageal malignancy. POEM is a revolutionizing achalasia therapy. POEM creates a myotomy via interventional endoscopy. Numerous studies demonstrate that POEM produces comparable, if not superior, results compared to standard laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM), as determined by LES pressure, dysphagia frequency, Eckardt score, hospital length of stay, therapy durability, and incidence of GERD. Other therapies, including botulinum toxin injection and pneumatic dilation, have moderately less efficacy and much less durability than POEM.

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive review suggests that POEM is equivalent or perhaps superior to LHM for achalasia in terms of cost efficiency, hospital length of stay, and relief of dysphagia, with comparable side effects. The data are, however, not conclusive due to sparse long-term follow-up and lack of randomized comparative clinical trials. POEM therapy is currently limited by a shortage of trained endoscopists.