Efficacy and Safety of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Treatment of Achalasia After Failed Heller Myotomy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In patients with persistent symptoms after Heller myotomy (HM), treatment options include repeat HM, pneumatic dilation, or peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of POEM in patients with achalasia with prior HM vs without prior HM. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 180 patients with achalasia who underwent POEM at 13 tertiary centers worldwide, from December 2009 through September 2015. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with prior HM (HM group, exposure; n = 90) and those without prior HM (non-HM group; n = 90). Clinical response was defined by a decrease in Eckardt scores to 3 or less. Adverse events were graded according to criteria set by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Technical success, clinical success, and rates of adverse events were compared between groups. Patients were followed up for a median of 8.5 months. RESULTS: POEM was technically successful in 98% of patients in the HM group and in 100% of patients in the non-HM group (P = .49). A significantly lower proportion of patients in the HM group had a clinical response to POEM (81%) than in the non-HM group (94%; P = .01). There were no significant differences in rates of adverse events between the groups (8% in the HM group vs 13% in the non-HM group; P = .23). Symptomatic reflux and reflux esophagitis after POEM were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: POEM is safe and effective for patients with achalasia who were not treated successfully by prior HM. Although the rate of clinical success in patients with prior HM is lower than in those without prior HM, the safety profile of POEM is comparable between groups.

Comprehensive Analysis of Adverse Events Associated With Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy in 1826 Patients: An International Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: The safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is still debated since comprehensive analysis of adverse events (AEs) associated with the procedure in large multicenter cohort studies has not been performed. To study (1) the prevalence of AEs and (2) factors associated with occurrence of AEs in patients undergoing POEM. METHODS: Patients who underwent POEM at 12 tertiary-care centers between 2009 and 2015 were included in this case-control study. Cases were defined by the occurrence of any AE related to the POEM procedure. Control patients were selected for each AE case by matching for age, gender, and disease classification (achalasia type I and II vs. type III/spastic esophageal disorders). RESULTS: A total of 1,826 patients underwent POEM. Overall, 156 AEs occurred in 137 patients (7.5%). A total of 51 (2.8%) inadvertent mucosotomies occurred. Mild, moderate, and severe AEs had a frequency of 116 (6.4%), 31 (1.7%), and 9 (0.5%), respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that sigmoid-type esophagus (odds ratio (OR) 2.28, P=0.05), endoscopist experience <20 cases (OR 1.98, P=0.04), use of a triangular tip knife (OR 3.22, P=0.05), and use of an electrosurgical current different than spray coagulation (OR 3.09, P=0.02) were significantly associated with the occurrence of AEs. CONCLUSIONS: This large study comprehensively assessed the safety of POEM and highly suggests POEM as a relatively safe procedure when performed by experts at tertiary centers with an overall 7.5% prevalence of AEs. Severe AEs are rare. Sigmoid-type esophagus, endoscopist experience, type of knife, and current used can be considered as predictive factors of AE occurrence.

Prospective evaluation of CT esophagram findings after peroral endoscopic myotomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a procedure with potential for serious adverse events. Postprocedure imaging is routinely done, yet there is no consensus on the optimal imaging protocol. We describe a novel and simple CT esophagram protocol for evaluation after POEM and for reporting the full spectrum of radiographic findings and subsequent interventions. METHODS: This was a single-center prospective study of consecutive patients treated with POEM evaluated with CT esophagram. RESULTS: Eighty-four consecutive patients who had POEM performed underwent CT esophagrams. The most common findings were pneumomediastinum (85.7%), pneumoperitoneum (66.7%), subcutaneous emphysema (52.4%), and pleural effusion (46.4%). Other findings included retroperitoneal air (38.1%), pneumothorax (19%), atelectasis (14.3%), intramural air in the esophagus and/or stomach (13.1%), pericardial effusion (2.4%), and pneumopericardium (2.4%). Five patients required intervention based on CT findings. In 1 patient, a leak was detected on CT esophagram before any clinical manifestation, facilitating prompt intervention and avoiding potential serious outcomes. Four patients were diagnosed with pneumonia and were treated with antibiotics. There was frequent postprocedural atelectasis, which prompted the introduction of routine incentive spirometry in all postoperative POEM cases. CONCLUSIONS: CT esophagram is a simple and accessible imaging test for routine postoperative POEM evaluation. Numerous and dramatic postprocedure radiographic findings may be expected and demonstrated with this imaging modality. Although most of these findings may not require intervention, some are of potential significance, and early identification may help modify postprocedure management. ( CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01832779.).

An atypical case of chronic diarrhoea: olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy.

Olmesartan use has been associated with chronic diarrhoea and weight loss due to severe sprue-like enteropathy, yet this is still not well known among clinicians. We present the unique case of an 84-year-old Filipino woman diagnosed with olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy after an extensive work up for chronic diarrhoea, and without improvement despite multiple empiric treatments for nearly 15 months. Withdrawal of olmesartan resulted in clinical and histological improvement. This case provides further evidence for olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy, and emphasises the importance of its awareness and recognition among gastroenterologists and primary care physicians alike.

Evaluation of anesthesia management, feasibility and efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia performed in the endoscopy unit.

INTRODUCTION: Data on anesthesia management and outcomes associated with peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) performed exclusively in the endoscopy unit are limited. In this prospective study, we evaluated the safety of anesthesia management, and the feasibility and efficacy of POEM performed exclusively in the endoscopy unit. METHODS: A single-center prospective study of consecutive patients with achalasia treated with POEM in an endoscopy unit was performed. Safety of anesthesia management and POEM were determined by procedure-related adverse events. Feasibility was assessed by completion rate. Short-term efficacy was established by clinical success (Eckardt score ≤ 3) and by comparing Eckardt and dysphagia scores before and after POEM. RESULTS: Patients (n = 52) underwent POEM under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and positive pressure ventilation. Aspiration was prevented by keeping patients on a clear liquid diet before the procedure without requiring a prior esophagogastroduodenoscopy for esophageal content clearance. POEM completion rate was 96 % (50/52 patients). There was no post-POEM bleeding. Postprocedure leak was observed in one patient (3 %). Four patients (7.7 %) experienced mucosal injury, three of them were treated uneventfully endoscopically and one required laparoscopic repair. Clinical success was achieved in 88 % of patients. There was a significant decrease in the mean Eckardt score (8.1 to 1.4) and dysphagia score (2.4 to 0.4) (P < 0.0001) at the one month follow up after POEM. CONCLUSION: Anesthesia management of POEM is safe in the endoscopy unit and aspiration can be prevented without requiring prior esophagogastroduodenoscopy for esophageal content clearance. Overall, POEM performed by a gastroenterologist in the endoscopy unit was feasible and effective for the treatment of achalasia.

Therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and instrumentation.

Over the last 40 years, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has evolved from being a purely diagnostic to a primarily therapeutic procedure. The 2 recent developments in ERCP-based stricture management include the increased use of cholangioscopy-guided sampling and self-expandable metal stents. The role of ERCP in pancreatic diseases continues to evolve; ERCP-based pancreatic therapy requires advanced endoscopic expertise and is associated with a high rate of postprocedure complications. Therefore, a multidisciplinary team approach at a center with expertise in pancreatic therapy should serve as a basis for very careful patient selection.