Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by esophageal aperistalsis and incomplete lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation during swallowing. Classical symptoms include dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, and weight loss. Goal of current treatment modalities of achalasia is to decrease the lower esophageal sphincter pressure, thereby relieving the symptoms. Standard treatments include pneumatic dilation, Heller myotomy, and Botulinum toxin injection into LES [
POEM is a novel, incisionless treatment modality that combines the efficacy of a surgical myotomy with the convenience of an endoscopic procedure. The concept of POEM is derived from Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) and advances in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) techniques. Feasibility of endoscopic esophageal myotomy in an animal model was initially described by Pasricha et al. and it was refined and translated into clinical practice by Inoue et al. [
POEM is rapidly gaining popularity and is being performed at increasing number of tertiary centers around the world [
Data on initial 20 consecutive patients who underwent POEM for achalasia by our two-person technique at our institution from April to October 2014 were collected. Patients were identified from our Institutional Review Board approved prospective POEM registry. Patient demographics, clinical history, preoperative and procedural data, complications, and follow-up data were collected from our secure REDCAP database.
POEM operators at our institution (MS, SR, and SM) received adequate training and practice of POEM in ex vivo porcine model, attended live POEM courses, and observed POEM procedures performed by experienced operators before starting human cases. MS has also visited Japan for 2 weeks and obtained training in ESD and POEM by observership before starting POEM at our institution. Each of our POEM operators performed at least 15 POEM procedures in ex vivo porcine esophageal model before performing human cases. Credentialing process at out institution involved at least two proctored cases initially by an experienced POEM operator before performing the POEM independently. Hence, our first two cases were proctored by an external experienced operator.
All patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team comprising gastroenterologists with expertise in esophageal diseases, thoracic surgeons, and radiologists. Patients had a standard diagnostic work-up prior to POEM including an upper endoscopy, TBE, HREM, and Eckardt symptom scoring and staging of achalasia. Achalasia was staged according to the Eckardt score as stage 0 (score 0-1), stage 1 (score 2-3), stage 2 (score 4–6), and stage 3 (score >6) [
All patients were instructed to be on clear liquid diet for 3 days prior to procedure. Nystatin oral suspension (100,000 units/mL) was prescribed for 3 days prior to procedure at a dose of 2 mL every 6 hours to swish and swallow orally. They were given half a gallon of Golytely (PEG-electrolytes) oral solution for bowel cleansing on the night before the procedure similar to those undergoing Heller myotomy at our institution. Patients fasted past midnight on the day prior to the procedure. All patients received antibiotic prophylaxis with 1500 mg of intravenous cefuroxime and 200 mg of intravenous fluconazole 30 minutes prior to POEM.
All procedures were performed in an operative room under general anesthesia by standard technique similar to that described by Inoue et al. [
During our lab experience/practice we found that having a second operator holding and stabilizing the endoscope shaft while the primary operator was controlling the dials and devices was very helpful. Hence, we adopted the two-person POEM technique. In our two-person technique, both the advanced endoscopist and the thoracic surgeon performed the procedure together with each one performing certain portions of the procedure alternatively. The primary operator worked with the endoscope dials and catheters/devices. The second operator held and stabilized the endoscope shaft while applying constant tension at the submucosa-muscularis propria interface for faster and safer dissection. Mucosotomy, submucosal tunneling, and endoscopic clipping were mostly performed by the advanced endoscopist. Thoracic surgeon mostly performed myotomy and ensured adequacy of myotomy in terms of both completeness and appropriate length onto the gastric side. However, these steps were interchangeable and arbitrary between the two operators in different procedures. Operative time was measured from initial insertion of endoscope until the end of the procedure.
All patients were kept nil per os (NPO) and were observed overnight in the hospital on intravenous fluids, intravenous proton pump inhibitor, and an intravenous antibiotic, cefuroxime. A gastrografin swallow study was performed next day and patients were started on clear liquid diet if the swallow study did not show a leak and were discharged home. The diet was gradually advanced over next several days. A proton pump inhibitor was prescribed to all patients for at least 2 months.
A follow-up was arranged in 1-2 weeks to evaluate for any adverse events. Then another follow-up visit was arranged at about 2 months after procedure. At that time, evaluations included Eckardt symptom scoring, timed barium esophagogram (TBE), 24-hour esophageal pH study of medications, and a high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) study. Patients with either gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms or abnormal 24-hour pH study were continued on PPI therapy indefinitely. A 24-hour pH study was considered abnormal if esophageal acid exposure was greater than 4.5% of the total time. An Eckardt symptom score of ≤3 was considered as therapeutic success or remission.
Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation, median [P25, P75], or
The mean age of this patient cohort was 56.7 years (±18.1). The male to female ratio was 14 to 6. Most of the patients were Caucasian (17/20, 85%) and the mean BMI was 28.6 (±5.9). ASA class was II in 7 patients, III in 11 patients, and IV in 2 patients, respectively. Preprocedural characteristics including achalasia types, findings on HREM, TBE, Eckardt symptom scores and stage, and details of prior treatments received for achalasia are shown in Table
Pre-POEM characteristics.
Factor | | Summary |
---|---|---|
Achalasia types | 20 | |
(i) Type 1 | 9 (45) | |
(ii) Type 2 | 10 (50) | |
(iii) Type 3 | 1 (10) | |
Basal LES pressure (mmHg) | 14 | 35.9 ± 20.4 |
LES residual pressure (mmHg) | 18 | 23.6 ± 10.4 |
Barium esophagogram findings | ||
Column height at 1 min (cm) | 18 | 7.5 ± 5.4 |
Column width at 1 min (cm) | 18 | 3.6 ± 2.4 |
Volume remaining at 1 min (cc) | 18 | 59.1 [25.1, 127.2] |
Column height at 5 min (cm) | 18 | 6.3 ± 5.5 |
Column width at 5 min (cm) | 18 | 2.8 ± 1.7 |
Volume remaining at 5 min (cc) | 18 | 48.9 [21.3, 88.3] |
Maximal esophageal width (cm) | 16 | 3.8 ± 2.3 |
Duration of achalasia symptoms (years) | 20 | 3.0 [1.8, 6.0] |
Eckardt dysphagia score | 19 | 2.3 ± 0.82 |
Eckardt chest pain score | 19 | 1.00 ± 1.00 |
Eckardt regurgitation score | 19 | 1.8 ± 0.76 |
Eckardt weight loss score | 19 | 1.5 ± 1.2 |
Total Eckardt score | 19 | 6.7 ± 2.5 |
Eckardt staging | 19 | |
(i) Stage 1 | 3 (15.8) | |
(ii) Stage 2 | 6 (31.6) | |
(iii) Stage 3 | 10 (52.6) | |
Prior treatments | ||
None | 20 | 6 (30.0) |
Botulinum toxin | 20 | 4 (20.0) |
Pneumatic dilation | 20 | 8 (40.0) |
Heller myotomy | 20 | 6 (30.0) |
Number of prior treatments | 19 | |
(i) 0 | 6 (31.6) | |
(ii) 1 | 8 (42.1) | |
(iii) 3 | 3 (15.8) | |
(iv) 4 | 1 (5.3) | |
(v) 8 | 1 (5.3) |
Values presented as mean ± SD, median [P25, P75], or
POEM procedure details.
Factor | | Summary |
---|---|---|
Operative time (minutes) | 19 | 140.1 ± 32.9 |
Submucosal tunnel length (cm) | 20 | 15.7 ± 2.3 |
Myotomy length, on esophageal side (cm) | 20 | 5.6 ± 2.2 |
Myotomy length, on gastric side (cm) | 20 | 4.3 ± 1.03 |
Total myotomy length (cm) | 20 | 9.8 ± 2.1 |
Number of endoscopic clips used to close mucosotomy | 20 | 7.2 ± 1.8 |
Mucosotomy site distance proximal to GEJ (cm) | 20 | 10.4 ± 3.2 |
Values presented as mean ± SD or
Two patients with prior Heller myotomy had inadvertent mucosal perforations near the GEJ. One of them could be closed with one endoscopic clip and the other one was larger than 1 cm and was not amenable to clipping. Both of these patients were kept NPO for two days after POEM (instead of our standard 1 day) and then had a barium swallow study which was negative for a leak. They were started on clear liquids and were discharged home. Median length of hospital stay of our patients after POEM was 1 day (1.00 and 2.5) and return to activities of daily living (ADL) was 5 days (5.0 and 7.0). One patient (one of the two patients with a large mucosal perforation at GEJ during POEM) required hospitalization on 19th postoperative day, due to melena with a 4 gram drop in hemoglobin level. He was noncompliant with the prescribed proton pump inhibitor. An upper endoscopy performed showed a 1 cm clean based ulcer at the GEJ, most likely source of bleeding. He did not require any blood transfusion and was discharged home within 2 days.
Comparative data between pre- and post-POEM at two-month follow-up are summarized in Table
Pre- versus post-POEM characteristics on 2-month follow-up.
Factor | | Pre-POEM | Post-POEM | Pre-post difference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TBE findings | |||||
Column height at 1 min (cm) | 11 | 7.5 ± 4.5 | 4.7 ± 4.3 | 3.1 ± 5.7 | |
Column width at 1 min (cm) | 11 | 3.2 ± 1.3 | 1.7 ± 1.6 | 1.5 ± 1.2 | |
Volume remaining at 1 min (cc) | 11 | 52.3 [25.1, 106.0] | 17.7 [0.00, 49.2] | 40.6 [0.81, 79.1] | |
Column height at 5 min (cm) | 11 | 6.8 ± 4.9 | 2.3 ± 2.9 | 4.3 ± 6.0 | |
Column width at 5 min (cm) | 11 | 2.8 ± 1.4 | 0.99 ± 1.2 | 1.7 ± 1.2 | |
Volume remaining at 5 min (cc) | 11 | 47.1 [21.3, 76.9] | 0.00 [0.00, 26.7] | 24.5 [19.6, 52.1] | |
Maximal esophageal width (cm) | 9 | 3.1 ± 1.2 | 2.1 ± 1.6 | 0.77 ± 0.74 | |
HREM findings | |||||
Resting LES pressure (mmHg) | 7 | 28.2 ± 14.1 | 12.8 ± 6.3 | 22.5 ± 14.4 | |
Residual LES pressure (mmHg) | 7 | 22.4 ± 11.3 | 6.3 ± 3.4 | 20.3 ± 9.2 | |
Eckardt symptom scores | |||||
Eckardt dysphagia score | 12 | 2.2 ± 0.94 | 0.08 ± 0.29 | 2.1 ± 1.00 | |
Eckardt chest pain score | 12 | 1.08 ± 1.2 | 0.17 ± 0.39 | 0.92 ± 1.2 | |
Eckardt regurgitation score | 12 | 2.0 ± 0.85 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 2.0 ± 0.85 | |
Eckardt weight loss score | 12 | 1.2 ± 1.2 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 1.2 ± 1.2 | |
Eckardt total score | 12 | 6.4 ± 2.9 | 0.25 ± 0.45 | 6.2 ± 2.9 | |
GERD symptoms | 11 | 0 | 4 (36.4) | ||
24-hour pH study | 10 | ||||
Normal | 5 (50) | ||||
Abnormal | 5 (50) |
Values presented as mean ± SD, median [P25, P75], or
Our study showed that performance of POEM with two-person technique by an advanced endoscopist and a thoracic surgeon was highly successful with excellent short-term outcomes in our initial 20 patients. This was despite our patients being more complex compared to other reported early series, with majority of them with advanced achalasia and failure of other standard treatment modalities.
This study’s findings are similar to previous reported studies in terms of short-term outcomes including treatment success and low risk of complications [
Our study patients were more complex compared to other reported early series. Only 30% of our patients were treatment naïve and the rest of the patients have failed other treatment modalities of achalasia. Some of them have received multiple treatments prior to POEM. Since POEM is a complex procedure requiring high technical skills and a long learning curve, many experts recommend beginners to perform treatment naïve cases for up to 20 procedures before taking on complex cases [
Although POEM can be performed by a single operator, we believe our two-person technique has several inherent advantages. The main advantage is the constant tension applied to the submucosa-muscularis propria interface by the second operator in the two-person technique, which is not easily accomplished by the single operator technique. This facilitates safer and faster dissection with more control. Additionally, in complex POEM procedures such as those performed after numerous endoscopic interventions or after failed Heller myotomy, the added experience of two physicians over that of the single operator has value in appropriately identifying planes when they are not very clear. This is especially important in the early experience of operators in this relatively new technique. Having a second operator might also help in reducing operator fatigue and ensuring that each step is done thoroughly. If two-person technique is not feasible and POEM is to be performed by a gastroenterologist, we suggest having a thoracic or foregut surgery backup available as needed.
Some of our study limitations include small sample size and short follow-up. We do not know if these outcomes persist in the long run. However, it should be noted that POEM was successfully performed in advanced achalasia patients that have failed other conventional treatment modalities including Heller myotomy. Treatment options for such patients are limited and include morbid redo Heller myotomy or esophagectomy. POEM is an excellent minimally invasive rescue option for them. Another limitation of our two-person technique is the need to coordinate the schedules of the two operators to perform the procedure. At our institution, both operators bill the procedure as cosurgeons and share the revenue. We plan to continue this approach at our institution due to the complimentary skill sets of the operators and excellent outcomes. However, this approach might be very useful for initiating a POEM program until the operators get through the initial learning curve of 20 cases or so. This study is from a tertiary care referral center in which two experienced operators performed all the procedures, hence these findings may not be generalizable to general community practices. However, since achalasia is a rare condition, we do not foresee community practitioners performing this procedure.
In conclusion, our findings suggest that two-person technique of POEM by an advanced gastrointestinal endoscopist and a thoracic surgeon is highly successful with excellent short-term outcomes. Although POEM is a low risk procedure, serious complications such as severe bleeding, mediastinitis, and potential damage to surrounding vital structures can occur [
High-resolution esophageal manometry
Timed barium esophagogram
Peroral endoscopic myotomy
American Society of Anesthesiologists
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Lower esophageal sphincter
Activities of daily living
Length of stay
Nil per os
Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
This study abstract was presented as a poster at the annual Digestive Disease Week in May 2015, at Washington, DC, USA.
None of the authors have any potential competing interests pertaining to this paper.