A Rare Case of Deglutition-Induced Atrial Fibrillation Secondary to Esophageal Dilation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the world. However, deglutition-induced tachyarrhythmias are exceptionally rare. Diagnosis relies on a documented history, Holter monitoring and echocardiograms. The mechanism underlying deglutition-induced tachycardia remains uncertain, with leading hypotheses suggesting mechanical left atrial stimulation after esophageal distention or activation of the vagus nerve due to increased intra-esophageal pressure. Lifestyle changes, medications (e.g., beta-blockers and antiarrhythmics), and radiofrequency catheter ablation are viable treatment options. First-line treatment is usually beta-blockers, but they have limited effectiveness due to the poorly understood mechanisms behind this pathological condition. Sodium channel blockers targeting vagal motor fibers decrease esophageal muscle contraction force by reducing axonal transmission, supporting the theory that inhibiting rapid sodium channels may mitigate atrial tachycardias. This mechanism presents a promising approach for managing deglutition-induced atrial fibrillation. We present a unique case of a 58-year-old female diagnosed with deglutition-induced atrial fibrillation secondary to esophageal dilation who was successfully treated with the antiarrhythmic propafenone, supporting the vagus nerve hypothesis.

[Clinical analysis of endoscopic esophageal dilation for the treatment of corrosive esophageal strictures in children]. / å† é•œä¸‹é£Ÿç®¡æ‰©å¼ æ²»ç–—å„¿ç«¥è èš€æ€§é£Ÿç®¡ç‹­çª„çš„ä¸´åºŠåˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical application of endoscopic esophageal dilation in the treatment of corrosive esophageal strictures in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 15 children with corrosive esophageal strictures who underwent endoscopic esophageal dilation in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The clinical features, treatment modality of endoscopic esophageal dilation, number of dilations, complications, and prognosis were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 96 esophageal dilations were performed in the 15 children with corrosive esophageal strictures, with a median of 6 dilations per child. Among them, 9 children (60%) underwent 6 or more dilations. The children with a stricture length of >3 cm had a significantly higher number of dilations than those with a stricture length of ≤3 cm (P<0.05). The children with strictures in a single segment had a significantly better treatment outcome than those with strictures in multiple segments (P=0.005). No complication was observed during all sessions of dilation. The overall effective rate (including significant improvement and improvement) of endoscopic esophageal dilation treatment was 87%, with 2 cases of failure. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic esophageal dilation is an effective and relatively safe treatment method for corrosive esophageal strictures in children, and children with strictures in a single segment tend to have a better treatment outcome than those with strictures in multiple segments.

Esophageal Dilation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Patient Information.

Objective Complications of esophageal strictures have decreased in recent years due to evolved endoscopic methods. This has primarily been through esophageal dilation. This study examines the level of readability of patient information on esophageal dilation across 40 websites found via internet search. Methods In this cross-sectional readability study, the content of the first 40 websites about "esophageal dilation" and "upper GI endoscopy" found via Google search was analyzed using WebFX (Harrisburg, PA), an established readability tool. Five readability indices, each having a unique mathematical formula, were used to analyze online material. Outputs were then scored and averaged together. Results The aggregate readability of online esophageal dilation was found to be 9.2, corresponding to a ninth-grade reading level. This average was found based on 38 unique, non-duplicated websites evaluated. Conclusions The information currently available on the internet regarding esophageal dilation is considered to be at a difficult reading level for an average patient. There remains a significant amount of development required in the domain of information accessibility to enhance the patient comprehension of invasive procedures they are poised to undergo. It is imperative to refine the articulation of complex procedures further to prepare patients for forthcoming medical procedures.

Endoscopic dilation with bougies versus balloons in caustic esophageal strictures: 17-year experience from a tertiary care center.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic dilation is the preferred management strategy for caustic esophageal strictures (CES). However, the differences in outcome for different dilators are not clear. We compared the outcome of CES using bougie and balloon dilators. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2016, the following data of all the patients with CES were collected: demographic parameters, substance ingestion, number of strictures, number of dilations required to achieve ≥ 14 mm dilation, post-dilation recurrence, and total dilations. Patients were divided into two groups for the type of dilator, i.e., bougie or balloon. The two groups were compared for baseline parameter, technical success, short- and long-term clinical success, refractory strictures, recurrence rates, and major complications. RESULTS: Of the 189 patients (mean age 32.17 ± 12.12 years) studied, 119 (62.9%) were males. 122 (64.5%) patients underwent bougie dilation and 67 (35.5%) received balloon dilation. Technical success (90.1% vs. 68.7%, p < 0.001), short-term clinical success (65.6% vs. 46.3%, p value 0.01), and long-term clinical success (86.9% vs. 64.2%, p < 0.01) were higher for bougie dilators compared to balloon dilators. Twenty-four (12.7%) patients developed adverse events which were similar for two groups. On multivariate analysis, use of bougie dilators (aOR 4.868, 95% CI 1.027-23.079), short-term clinical success (aOR 5.785, 95% CI 1.203-27.825), and refractory strictures (aOR 0.151, 95% CI 0.033-0.690) were independent predictors of long-term clinical success. CONCLUSION: Use of bougie dilators is associated with better clinical success in patients with CES compared to balloon dilators with similar rates of adverse events.

Acute-Onset Achalasia Following a Recent COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report.

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder that leads to dysphagia, regurgitation, and several other symptoms. While the etiology of achalasia is not completely understood, studies have suggested an immune reaction to viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as a potential cause. Here, we present a case report of a previously healthy 38-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with severe shortness of breath, recurrent vomiting, and dry cough, that had progressively worsened over five days. The patient was diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and a chest CT also revealed prominent features of achalasia with a markedly dilated esophagus and areas of narrowing at the distal esophagus. The initial management of the patient included IV fluids, antibiotics, anticholinergics, and corticosteroid inhalers which improved his symptoms. This case report highlights the importance of considering the acute-onset of achalasia in COVID-19 patients and the need for further research on the potential association between SARS-CoV-2 and achalasia.

Endoscopy in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic allergen-mediated clinicopathologic condition that currently requires esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsies and histologic evaluation to diagnose and monitor its progress. This state-of-the art review outlines the pathophysiology of EoE, reviews the application of endoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool, and discusses potential complications related to therapeutic endoscopic interventions. It also introduces recent innovations that can enhance the endoscopist's ability to diagnose and monitor EoE with minimally invasive procedures and perform therapeutic maneuvers more safely and effectively.

Randomized controlled trial of intravenous sedation vs general anesthesia for esophageal dilation with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in esophageal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is mostly diagnosed in its later stages, when patients present with dysphagia and weight loss. Esophageal dilation with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common surgical procedure in patients with locally advanced ESCC because of tumor obstruction and enteral nutrition support during neoadjuvant or definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Esophageal dilation with PEG is widely performed under general anesthesia (GA) with endotracheal intubation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the overall success rate of completing this procedure using intravenous (IV) sedation with dexmedetomidine (DEX) relative to GA and to compare its perioperative conditions, including procedure times, pain scores (visual analog scale), adverse events, and costs. SETTINGS: Songklanagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) of locally advanced ESCC patients who had dysphagia and needed esophageal dilation with PEG between January 2020 and December 2021. Esophageal dilation (using a Savary-Gilliard dilator) and PEG were performed using the pull technique. RESULTS: Seventy patients were randomly assigned to either the DEX group (n = 34) or the GA group (n = 36). All patients in both groups underwent successful surgery. The DEX group had a significantly shorter procedure time, lower procedure cost, and lower total hospital cost than the GA group. However, there were no significant between-group differences in pain scores or length of hospital stay. There were no serious adverse events in either group; however, the GA group had some incidences of sore throat, transient hoarseness, and atelectasis. CONCLUSION: This study found that IV sedation with DEX during esophageal dilation with PEG was as effective and safe as using GA.

Risk factors of restenosis after dilation of anastomotic stenosis in patients with esophageal cancer surgery / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of restenosis after dilation of anastomotic stenosis in patients with esophageal cancer surgery.Methods:Clinical data of 997 patients who underwent endoscopic dilation due to anastomotic stenosis after esophageal cancer radical surgery in the Affiliated Huai′an First Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June 2015 to July 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 486 cases receiving single dilation (single dilation group) and 511 cases receiving more than two dilations (multiple dilation group). The risk factors of restenosis were explored using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:There were 682 males and 315 females with a median age of 65 years, the median distance between the stenosis and incisor was 20 (20, 22) cm, the median stenosis diameter was 4 (3, 5) mm, and the median stenosis diameter after dilation was 11 (11, 13) mm. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in the distance of the stenosis and incisor ( Z=-2.303, P<0.05), stenosis diameter ( Z=-4.637, P<0.05) and stenosis diameter after dilation ( Z=-5.773, P<0.05) between single and multiple dilation groups. Stratified multivariate logistic regression showed that for male patients, risk of multiple dilations dropped by approximately 3% for every 1-mm increase in the distance between the stenosis and incisor ( OR=0.97, 95% CI:0.93-1.00, P=0.047); the risk of multiple dilations decreased by about 15%, for every 1-mm increase in stenosis diameter ( OR=0.85, 95% CI:0.76-0.94, P=0.004); the risk of multiple dilations decreased by about 13% for every 1-mm increase in stenosis diameter after dilation ( OR=0.87, 95% CI:0.78-0.96, P=0.007). For females patients under 60 years old, the risk of multiple dilations decreased by about 31%, for every 1-mm increase in stenosis diameter after dilation ( OR=0.69, 95% CI:0.47-0.98, P=0.049); for female patients≥60 years old, the risk decreased by about 5%, for every 1-year increase in age ( OR=0.95, 95% CI:0.91-1.00, P=0.037), risk of multiple dilations dropped by 17%( OR=0.83, 95% CI:0.70-0.99, P=0.039) for every 1 mm increase in stenosis diameter after dilation. Stratified smooth curve fitting indicated that the distance between the stenosis and incisor≤23 mm, stenosis diameter≤4.5 mm, stenosis diameter after dilation≤12 mm were risk factors for multiple dilations. Conclusions:The study indicates that patients with the distance between the stenosis and incisor≤23 mm, stenosis diameter≤4.5 mm, stenosis diameter after dilation≤12 mm may need multiple dilations; and the first dilation should expand the stenosis diameter to 12 mm or above as far as possible to reduce the risk of restenosis in patients receiving esophageal cancer radical surgery.

Clinical analysis of endoscopic esophageal dilation for the treatment of corrosive esophageal strictures in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the clinical application of endoscopic esophageal dilation in the treatment of corrosive esophageal strictures in children.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 15 children with corrosive esophageal strictures who underwent endoscopic esophageal dilation in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The clinical features, treatment modality of endoscopic esophageal dilation, number of dilations, complications, and prognosis were reviewed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 96 esophageal dilations were performed in the 15 children with corrosive esophageal strictures, with a median of 6 dilations per child. Among them, 9 children (60%) underwent 6 or more dilations. The children with a stricture length of >3 cm had a significantly higher number of dilations than those with a stricture length of ≤3 cm (P<0.05). The children with strictures in a single segment had a significantly better treatment outcome than those with strictures in multiple segments (P=0.005). No complication was observed during all sessions of dilation. The overall effective rate (including significant improvement and improvement) of endoscopic esophageal dilation treatment was 87%, with 2 cases of failure.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Endoscopic esophageal dilation is an effective and relatively safe treatment method for corrosive esophageal strictures in children, and children with strictures in a single segment tend to have a better treatment outcome than those with strictures in multiple segments.

Routine Intraoperative Use of Esophageal Bougie in Minimally Invasive Hiatal Hernia Repair is Not Necessary.

Background: Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair can be performed with an antireflux procedure. Routine use of an esophageal bougie has been advocated to avoid an excessively tight fundoplication. The use of an esophageal bougie carries a risk of iatrogenic complications, such as perforation or laceration of the viscera. However, there is equivocal evidence for the routine use in the surgical literature. Methods: We present a retrospective analysis of patients with Types 3 and 4 paraesophageal hiatal hernias who underwent laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication without the use of an esophageal bougie, between December 1, 2010 and February 28, 2020, by a single surgeon at a community-based, academic hospital. Patients with a diagnosis of achalasia and gastroesophageal dysmotility were excluded. Perioperative outcome measures included: recurrence; prolonged postoperative proton pump inhibitor use; dysphagia; re-operation, and mortality. Results: A total of 174 patients (34 males, 140 females) underwent laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication. The average age was 63-years old. Four patients (2.3%) developed dysphagia with narrowing of the gastroesophageal junction, with one patient (0.6%) requiring postoperative esophageal dilation with bougie and eventual re-operation. Postoperative proton pump inhibitor use was 31.0% after 1 month. Overall hernia recurrence rate was 14.9% and the rate of re-operation was 6.3%. Overall mortality was 0.6%. Conclusion: We conclude that laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication without an esophageal bougie is safe, effective, and efficient. Furthermore, bougie related risks are obviated with a comparable reported incidence of postoperative dysphagia and hiatal hernia recurrence.

Managing Complications Following Endoscopic Myotomy as a Treatment for Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Achalasia: A Case Report.

Achalasia is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by increased esophageal sphincter tone and dysmotility that causes worsening dysphagia. While this condition usually affects the lower esophageal sphincter, we present a rare case of upper esophageal sphincter (UES) achalasia of unknown etiology in a female in her sixth decade of life. This was managed via UES myotomy but was complicated by esophageal perforation and severe post-operative stenosis. Consequently, the patient was referred to gastroenterology and treated over the course of two months with six endoscopic dilatations and glucocorticoid injections. Few cases of idiopathic UES achalasia have been described to date.

Endoscopic versus fluoroscopic esophageal dilatations in children with esophageal strictures: 10-year experience.

Esophageal strictures in children may cause dysphagia, choking during feeds, and failure to thrive. They can be treated by balloon dilatations, either under endoscopic or fluoroscopic guidance; there is no literature comparing the methods. Retrospective review of the medical records of children (0-18 years) who were treated with balloon dilatations between 2010 and 2020. The primary outcome was the number of dilatation sessions required until clinical success after 3 months. Secondary outcomes were long-term success at 12 months, and complications of bleeding and perforation. Forty-six patients underwent 174 dilatation sessions. Success rates in the endoscopy and fluoroscopy groups were similar: 62% versus 67% (p = 0.454) at 3 months and 57% versus 67% (p = 0.721) at 12 months. Complication rate was lower in the endoscopy group (0% vs. 15%, p < 0.001). Both endoscopic and radiologic-guided balloon dilatations were shown to be equally effective, but endoscopic guidance had fewer complications.

Clinical outcomes on weekly endoscopic dilations as the initial approach to manage patients with complex benign esophageal strictures: report on 488 dilations.

BACKGROUND: Success rate of endoscopic dilation (ED) of complex benign esophageal strictures (CBES) can be as low as 65%. Since EDs are usually performed at 2-4-week intervals, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of EDs done initially at weekly intervals. METHODS: A cohort of patients with CBES (luminal diameter < 10 mm) underwent ED at weekly intervals and subsequent dilation intervals adjusted based on response. Weekly EDs were also re-initiated in those requiring additional interventions (electro-cautery/stents). Group A patients: Failed prior EDs done at ≥ 2-week intervals. Group B: CBES with no prior dilations. Success was defined as achieving and maintaining a luminal diameter of ≥ 14 mm and patient remaining dysphagia-free with minimal re-interventions. RESULTS: 488 EDs were performed on a cohort of 57 consecutive patients with CBES. Median follow-up was 4 years. Group A: 21 patients (mean age 65 ± 13 years; mean interval between prior failed dilations 17 ± 9 days). 57% of these patients achieved long-term success with weekly dilations (mean 8 ± 4.7 dilations/patient). Group B: 36 patients (mean age 61 ± 13 years, mean 6.5 ± 5.5 dilations/patient). Long-term success was 83.3% (P = 0.033). Despite weekly dilations, unable to achieve a diameter of 14 mm in 5 patients. AE: perforation 1 (0.2%), bleeding 1 (0.2%). CONCLUSION: Significant proportion of patients with CBES who failed prior dilations done at ≥ 2-week intervals achieved dysphagia-free status by initiating weekly dilations. Hence, before considering other options (electro-cautery/stents), one can consider using this approach. This approach can also be used upfront in patients with newly diagnosed CBES.

Long-term outcomes of refractory esophageal strictures after endoscopic submucosal dissection of superficial esophageal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have focused on prophylactic therapy for post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of esophageal strictures. However, various strategies cannot prevent the occurrence of postoperative strictures after extensive ESD. Postoperative strictures often inevitably occur, and endoscopic dilation is still a temporarily effective therapy. METHODS: This study included patients with post-ESD refractory esophageal strictures (RESs) from January 2014 to November 2019. Clinical effectiveness was assessed using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Hierarchical linear models were used to identify factors that predicted the dysphagia-free period. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and entered the study. Twenty-seven (54%) patients had a history of prophylactic oral steroid therapy. Forty-six patients (92%) underwent ≥ 75% circumferential resection, including 32 (64%) cases involving entire circumferential ESD. The mean dysphagia-free period of 50 patients was 2.9 months (95% CI 2.3-3.5). The dysphagia-free period had a linear growth trend over time, increasing by 6.9 days per endoscopic therapy, and the estimated last dysphagia-free period was 85.9 days. Old and female patients had shorter dysphagia-free periods compared with young and male patients. Endoscopic therapy success was achieved in 30 (60%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that circumferential lesions (OR 6.106, 95% CI 1.013-36.785, P = 0.048) were significant predictive factors for poor clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic dilation seemed effective in patients with post-ESD RESs by increasing the dysphagia-free period. After approximately 10 continuous dilations, 60% of patients achieved endoscopic success, and the remission rate of obstruction was increased. Prophylactic oral steroid therapy could reduce the occurrence of RESs. However, once a RES had occurred, prophylactic steroid therapy could not reduce the frequency of dilations or change the long-term outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was prospectively registered and approved by the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital of Sichuan University (IRB number: ChiCTR-ONN-17012382) on 2015.

The Art of Endoscopic Dilation: Lessons Learned Over 4 Decades of Practice.

The author offers his approach to esophageal dilation based on 40 years of a practice specializing in swallowing disorders and esophageal disease. He discusses general concepts in the management of esophageal strictures and then provides an approach to dilation of different types of esophageal stenotic lesions.

Efficacy of empiric esophageal dilation in patients with non-obstructive dysphagia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Empiric esophageal dilation is frequently performed for non-obstructive dysphagia. Studies evaluating its efficacy have reported conflicting results. In this meta-analysis, we have evaluated the efficacy of esophageal dilation in the management of non-obstructive dysphagia. METHODS: We reviewed several databases from inception to 26 May 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that evaluated the role of empiric esophageal dilation for non-obstructive dysphagia. Our outcomes of interest were clinical success (improvement in dysphagia after dilation) and difference in post-operative dysphagia score between groups. For categorical variables, we calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI); for continuous variables, we calculated standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% CI. Data were analyzed using a random effects model. We used GRADE framework to ascertain the quality of evidence. RESULTS: We included 4 studies (3 RCTs and one observational) with 243 patients; there were 133 treated with empiric dilation and 110 controls. We found no significant difference in clinical success (OR (95% CI) 1.91 (0.89, 4.08)) or post-procedure dysphagia score between groups (SMD (95% CI) 0.38 (-0.37, 1.14)). Our findings remained consistent on subgroup analysis including RCTs only. Quality of evidence ranged from low to very low based on GRADE framework. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis does not support the use of empiric esophageal dilation in patients with non-obstructive dysphagia. More studies are required to confirm these findings.

Safety considerations for esophageal dilation by anesthetic type: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Esophageal dilation (ED) may be performed in the office under local anesthesia or in a procedure/operating room under general anesthesia or intravenous (IV) sedation. However, indications for type of anesthesia during these procedures have not been established. The purpose of this review is to assess outcomes of esophageal dilation performed using different types of anesthesia to assess the safety of office-based techniques. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of anesthesia techniques for ED in adults. Exclusion criteria included reviews, small case series, use of stents, diagnoses with high morbidity, and rare diseases. A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases was performed for articles relating to esophageal dilation. RESULTS: 876 papers were identified of which 164 full text studies were assessed and 25 were included in the analysis using the PRISMA guidelines. Data regarding demographics, dilation technique, and adverse events were extracted. The DerSimonian-Laird random-effect models with inverse-variance weighting were fit to estimate the combined effects. There were no statistically significant differences among mortality, perforation, or bleeding based on anesthetic. CONCLUSIONS: With office-based procedures gaining popularity in laryngology, there is a need to profile their safety. Office-based ED appears to have equivalent safety to general and IV sedation, although further research is necessary to define indications favoring office-based techniques.

Obesity reduces the requirement for subsequent esophageal stricture dilation in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) causes esophageal narrowing and strictures, but factors that modify the severity of strictures and requirement for subsequent dilation are not well described. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics that impact the need for repeat (> 1) esophageal dilations in EoE patients. METHODS: This was a single center retrospective cohort study over a 12-year period (September 2005-October 2017). Patients were identified using ICD9, ICD10, and CPT codes for esophageal dilation, eosinophilic esophagitis, and esophageal obstruction. Data for EoE clinical characteristics, treatments, and BMI were extracted and correlated to the number of esophageal dilations and time elapsed between dilations. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients who met inclusion criteria, 11 (52%) had at least two dilations and 9 (43%) had three dilations. There was no differences baseline demographics between patients who needed ≥ 2 vs. those who needed one dilation. However, patients with a BMI > 30 had a significantly longer median time to second dilation compared to non-obese patients (4.9 years vs. 1.8 years; p = 0.027). Stratification by either high dose PPI or inhaled steroid use did not change this result. CONCLUSIONS: EoE patients with strictures who are obese have a reduced requirement for subsequent esophageal dilation. While the mechanism for this is not clear, increased attention of non-obese patients with fibrostenotic EoE is indicated as they are at higher risk for recurrent strictures.

Population trends in achalasia diagnosis and management: a changing paradigm.

The Chicago Classification of esophageal motility disorders improved the differentiation of achalasia subtypes and tailored treatment. Heller myotomy (HM) and pneumatic dilation are two established treatments for achalasia. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become a third definitive option and is on the rise. Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we evaluated patients hospitalized with achalasia and associated surgical and endoscopic interventions from 2013 to 2017 and compared patients undergoing HM versus POEM. The NIS database was queried to include patients with achalasia. Patients who underwent HM, POEM (only 2017 due to lack of distinct procedure code in 2013), pneumatic dilation, or esophagectomy were identified. Adverse events during the hospitalization were also queried using diagnosis codes. From 2013 to 2017, patients hospitalized with achalasia increased from 16 850 to 19 485. There were reductions in the number of esophageal dilations (10.6-5.4%, P < 0.001) and HM (18.7-13.1%, P < 0.001). In 2017, 580 POEMs were performed. Compared with patients undergoing HM in 2017, patients who had POEM had higher mean age > 64 (P = 0.004), Charlson comorbidity index (P < 0.001), disease severity (P < 0.001), and likelihood of mortality (P < 0.001). There were no differences in length of stay, mortality, or total costs between the HM and POEM groups. Patients hospitalized with achlasia increased from 2013 to 2017, possibly due to the growth and accessibility of high-resolution esophageal manometry. As expertise in POEM increases, the number of POEM performed is anticipated to rise with possible further reductions in other treatment modalities for achalasia.