Efficacy and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy in 100 older patients.

BACKGROUND: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a standard treatment for achalasia. Several reports have described the efficacy and safety of POEM for elderly patients, but none has reported the efficacy and safety of POEM in a large number of elderly patients for > 3 years postoperatively. In this study, we examined the safety and outcome of POEM for 3 years postoperatively in 100 elderly patients. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients aged > 65 years who underwent POEM from September 2011 to March 2020 were included in this study. In analysis 1, we retrospectively investigated the safety and efficacy of POEM in all patients. In analysis 2, the efficacy and safety of POEM were statistically compared between two groups: the early elderly (65-74 years of age, 55 patients) and late elderly (≥ 75 years of age, 45 patients). RESULTS: The technical success rate of POEM was 100%. In analysis 1, the 3-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year efficacies of POEM (Eckardt score of ≤ 3) were 100% (92/92 cases), 100% (91/91 cases), 97.8% (88/90 cases), and 100% (92/92 cases), respectively. Procedure-related adverse events occurred in 11% of patients, but none was fatal. Two late elderly patients developed aspiration pneumonia due to delirium and underwent long-term hospitalization. In analysis 2, there were no significant differences in the efficacy and safety of POEM between the two age groups. CONCLUSIONS: POEM is effective and safe for elderly patients. However, precautions are needed regarding the risk of adverse events associated with delirium when POEM is performed in elderly patients.

A prospective analysis of GERD after POEM on anterior myotomy.

BACKGROUND: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an emerging, minimally invasive procedure capable of overcoming limitations of achalasia treatments, but gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after POEM is of concern and its risk factors have not been evaluated. This prospective study examined GERD and the association of POEM with reflux esophagitis. METHODS: Achalasia patients were recruited from a single center. The pre- and postoperative assessments included Eckardt scores, manometry, endoscopy, and pH monitoring. RESULTS: Between September 2011 and November 2014, 105 patients underwent POEM; 70 patients were followed up 3 months after POEM. Postoperatively, significant reductions were observed in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure [from 40.0 ± 22.8 to 20.7 ± 14.0 mmHg (P < 0.05)], LES residual pressure [from 22.1 ± 13.3 to 11.4 ± 6.6 mmHg (P < 0.05)], and Eckardt scores [from 5.7 ± 2.5 to 0.7 ± 0.8 (P < 0.05)]. Symptomatic GERD and moderate reflux esophagitis developed in 5 and 11 patients (grade B, n = 8; grade C, n = 3), respectively, and were well controlled with proton pump inhibitors. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed integrated relaxation pressure was a predictor of ≥grade B reflux esophagitis. No POEM factors were found to be associated with reflux esophagitis. CONCLUSION: POEM is effective and safe in treating achalasia, with no occurrence of clinically significant refractory GERD. Myotomy during POEM, especially of the gastric side, was not associated with ≥grade B (requiring medical intervention) reflux esophagitis. Extended gastric myotomy (2-3 cm) during POEM is recommended to improve outcomes.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia: outcomes of the first over 100 patients with short-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: POEM is a recently developed achalasia treatment method, which combines the efficacy of surgical myotomy with the benefits of endoscopic procedures. Very few studies have focussed on the efficacy and usefulness of POEM in over 100 cases. METHODS: The first 100 adult patients treated according to standard POEM technique in a single center and followed up for 3 months were identified and included in this study (men 42; women 58; mean age 48.2 ± 18.8; range 9-91 years) The pre- and postoperative assessments included Eckardt scores, manometry, endoscopy, and monitoring pH. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 150.8 ± 49.3 min (75-370 min). Adverse events over Grade IIIb by the Clavien-Dindo classification were not encountered. The mean preoperative and postoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressures were 43.6 ± 26.2 and 20.9 ± 12.7 mmHg, respectively, indicating a statistically significant decrease after POEM (P < 0.05). The mean preoperative and postoperative integrated relaxation pressure values were 33.5 ± 15.2 and 15.3 ± 6.5 mmHg (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the Eckardt score significantly decreased from 5.9 ± 2.5 preoperatively to 0.8 ± 0.9 postoperatively (P < 0.05). Clinical success was documented in 99 % of the patients. Short-term outcomes after POEM were extremely good and independent of the age, type of achalasia, and previous treatment method. The percent of monitoring time with a pH < 4 was 25.6 % (22/86) in patients not on proton-pump inhibitors. Nine patients were diagnosed with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); patients with reflux esophagitis and symptomatic GERD improved with PPI treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the efficacy of POEM in a large patient series and support POEM as one of the first-line achalasia therapies in the near future.

Primary gastric synovial sarcoma resected by laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery of the stomach: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary gastric synovial sarcoma is extremely rare, only 44 cases have been reported so far, and there have been no reports of laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery for this condition. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old male patient presented with gastric pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed that led to the identification of an 8-mm submucosal tumor in the anterior wall of the antrum, and a kit-negative gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected following biopsy. On endoscopic ultrasonography, the boundary of the tumor, mainly composed of the second layer, was depicted as a slightly unclear low-echo region, and a pointless no echo region was scattered inside. A boring biopsy revealed synovial sarcoma. Positron emission tomography did not reveal fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) accumulation in the stomach or other organs. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with a primary gastric synovial sarcoma, and laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery was performed. The tumor of the antrum could not be confirmed laparoscopically from the serosa, and under intraoperative endoscopy, it had delle on the mucosal surface, which was removed by a method that does not involve releasing the gastric wall. Immunohistochemistry showed that the spindle cells were positive for EMA, BCL-2 protein, TLE-1, and SS18-SSX fusion-specific antibodies but negative for KIT and DOG-1. The final pathological diagnosis was synovial sarcoma of the stomach. The postoperative course was good, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 11th postoperative day. CONCLUSION: Resection with laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS), which has not been reported before, was effective for small synovial sarcomas that could not be confirmed laparoscopically. With the combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with a non-exposure technique (CLEAN-NET) procedure, it was possible to excise the tumor with the minimum excision range of the gastric serosa without opening the stomach.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm-associated pancreatic cancer: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is often found incidentally during examination for other diseases. In addition to the risk of malignant transformation, patients with IPMN are at risk of developing pancreatic cancer. We report a case of pancreatic tail cancer that developed separately from a preexisting IPMN after minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer of the esophagogastric junction and was resected successfully by laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old man underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for esophagogastric junction cancer. He had undergone surgery for ascending colon cancer 20 years ago. At that time, IPMN was confirmed in the pancreatic body by a preoperative examination. Computed tomography was regularly performed for postoperative work-up and follow-up of the IPMN, and a solid lesion with cystic components was detected in the pancreatic tail 9 months after the operation. On detailed examination, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma concomitant with IPMN, accompanied by a retention cyst, was considered. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was successfully performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathological diagnosis of the lesion in the pancreatic tail was of an invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (ypT3ypN0yM0 ypStageIIA). CLINICAL DISCUSSION: If an IPMN is detected during preoperative examination for malignancies of other organs, careful follow-up is necessary due to the high risk of pancreatic cancer development. Furthermore, initial operation with minimally invasive surgery may reduce adhesion and facilitate subsequent surgeries. CONCLUSION: We have provided evidence that supports the importance of a careful follow-up of IPMNs, even if they are low risk.

Patient with mediastinitis caused by delayed mucosal damage after peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a groundbreaking procedure for treating esophageal achalasia, and many reports from various facilities have described its safety and efficacy. However, there have been few reports on adverse events. Here, we report a case of a patient with mediastinitis caused by delayed mucosal damage after POEM. This case was the most severe among all POEM cases at our hospital. A 58-year-old man had experienced dysphagia and chest tightness since he was around 50 years old. At a previous hospital, he had been diagnosed with nonerosive reflux disease and had undergone fundoplication. As his symptoms did not improve, he was referred to our department. POEM was able to be finished but a stable visual field could not be maintained throughout procedure because of strong esophageal contractions. From findings of endoscopy and esophagography after POEM, the patient was diagnosed mediastinitis caused by delayed esophageal perforation. In this case, conservative treatment (fasting, antibiotic therapy, and enteral feeding) was successful. However, the option to administer surgical treatment, such as drainage, must not be overlooked.

New endoscopic finding of esophageal achalasia with ST Hood short type: Corona appearance.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Detecting esophageal achalasia remains a challenge. We describe the diagnostic utility of corona appearance, a novel endoscopic finding specific to esophageal achalasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Corona appearance and seven conventional endoscopic findings were compared for sensitivity and consistency (κ-value) among 53 untreated esophageal achalasia patients who underwent endoscopy at our hospital. The following criteria had to be met during lower esophageal sphincter examination using the attached ST Hood short-type for positive corona appearance: A) congestion inside the hood, B) ischemic change around the hood, and C) palisade vessels outside the hood. RESULTS: Corona appearance had the highest sensitivity (91%; κ-value, 0.71). Other findings in descending order of sensitivity included 1) functional stenosis of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ; 86%; κ-value, 0.58), 2) mucosal thickening and whitish change (71%; κ-value, 0.27), 3) abnormal contraction of the esophageal body (59%; κ-value, 0.32), 4) dilation of the esophageal lumen (58%; κ-value, 0.53), 5) liquid remnant (57%; κ-value, 0.51), 6) Wrapping around EGJ (49%; κ-value, 0.14), and 7) food remnant (30%; κ-value, 0.88). Even in 22 patients with poor (grade 1) intraluminal expansion, corona appearance had highest sensitivity (88%) compared to other endoscopic findings (κ-value, 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Among endoscopic findings using a ST Hood short-type to diagnose esophageal achalasia, corona appearance had the highest sensitivity and its consistency (κ-value) among endoscopists was substantial compared to other endoscopic findings. Similar results were obtained for esophageal achalasia cases with poor expansion. Endoscopic diagnosis of esophageal achalasia with hood attached is useful.

Histological findings of divided muscle after peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a revolutionary therapy for achalasia and related disorders. POEM utilizes almost the same myotomy procedure as the Heller myotomy; thus, it would be expected to have the same or greater duration of therapeutic effect. However, to date, there have been no reports to prove the basis for this procedure in achalasia. In this case, we were able to histologically show the divided muscle after POEM since the patient had an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Histology showed that the muscle tissue divided by the POEM procedure was completely replaced by fibrosis. These findings may indirectly show the permanence of the POEM procedure.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection under general anesthesia.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) under general anesthesia. METHODS: From January 2011 to July 2014, 206 consecutive patients had undergone ESD under general anesthesia for neoplasms of the stomach, esophagus, and colorectum were enrolled in this retrospective study. The efficacy and safety of ESD under general anesthesia were assessed. RESULTS: The en bloc resection rate of esophageal, gastric, and colorectal lesions was 100.0%, 98.3%, and 96.1%, respectively. The complication rate of perforation and bleeding were 0.0% and 0.0% in esophageal ESD, 1.7% and 1.7% in gastric ESD, and 3.9% and 2.0% in colorectal ESD, respectively. No cases of aspiration pneumonia were observed. All complications were managed by conservative treatment, with no surgical intervention required. CONCLUSION: With the cooperation of an anesthesiologist, ESD under general anesthesia appears to be a useful method, decreasing the risk of complications.