Reflux after peroral endoscopic myotomy:The dilemma and the options

Per oral endoscopic myotomy(POEM)is rapidly emerging as the treatment of choice for achalasia cardia,but its success is marred by problematic reflux.Although symptomatic reflux rates are low and often comparable to that after laparoscopic Hellers myotomy(LHM),a high incidence of pathologic reflux has been noted after POEM.This poses a dilemma as to what is true reflux,and in determining the indications and optimal endpoints for managing post-POEM reflux.The two pertinent reasons for the difference in reflux rates between LHM and POEM are the variation in length and location of myotomy and the absence of an anti-reflux procedure in POEM.Proton pump inhibitor remains the most sought-after treatment of POEM derived reflux.Nevertheless,modifications in the procedural technique of POEM and the addition of endoscopic fundoplication can probably emerge as a game changer.This article briefly reviews the incidence,causes,controversies,predictive factors,and management strategies related to post-POEM reflux.

Gastroesophageal reflux following per-oral endoscopic myotomy:Can we improve outcomes?

This editorial is an analysis the review article by Nabi et al recently published in this journal.Achalasia Cardia is a disease whose pathophysiology is still unclear.It is known that there is inflammation of unknown aetiology leading to loss of ganglion cells in the muscularis propria.The end result is lower oesophageal sphincter spasm,loss of receptive relaxation,decreased oesophageal peristalsis,all leading on to varying degrees of dysphagia.The treatment of this condition is palliative in nature,performed by myotomy of the lower oesophagus either surgically or endoscopically.Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)has been associated with the myotomy performed,particularly with the Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy(POEM)procedure.Nabi et al have provided an excellent overview of the latest developments in predicting,preventing,evaluating,and managing GERD subsequent to POEM.Based on this theme,this review article explores the concept of using histology of the oesophageal muscle layer,to grade the disease and thereby help tailoring the length/type of myotomy performed during the POEM procedure.In the future,will a histology based algorithm available preoperatively,help modify the POEM procedure,thereby decreasing the incidence of GERD associated with POEM?

Gastroesophageal reflux following peroral endoscopic myotomy for achalasia:Bumps in the road to success

Achalasia can significantly impair the quality of life.The clinical presentation typically includes dysphagia to both solids and liquids,chest pain,and regurgitation.Diagnosis can be delayed in patients with atypical presentations,and they might receive a wrong diagnosis,such as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD),owing to overlapping symptoms of both disorders.Although the cause of achalasia is poorly understood,its impact on the motility of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction is well established.Several treatment modalities have been utilized,with the most common being surgical Heller myotomy with concomitant fundoplication and pneumatic balloon dilatation.Recently,peroral endoscopic myotomy(POEM)has gained popularity as an effective treatment for achalasia,despite a relatively high incidence of GERD occurring after treatment compared to other modalities.The magnitude of post-POEM GERD depends on its definition and is influenced by patient and procedure-related factors.The longterm sequelae of post-POEM GERD are yet to be determined,but it appears to have a benign course and is usually manageable with clinically available modalities.Identifying risk factors for post-POEM GERD and modifying the POEM procedure in selected patients may improve the overall success of this technique.

Recurrent achalasia treated with Heller myotomy:A review of the literature

AIM： To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Heller myotomy （HM） for recurrent achlasia, performed after different methods of first-line treatment. METHODS： We searched for studies published in PubMed from 1966 to March 2008 on treatment of recurrent achalasia with HM after failure with different methods of first-line treatment. The efficacy of HM was assessed by a pooled estimate of response rate with individual studies weighted proportionally to sample size. RESULTS： Sixteen studies were eligible and included in the review, The results showed that HM has a better remission rate for recurrent achalasia after failure of HM [weighted mean （SD）] of 86.9% （21,8%） compared with 81.6% （23.8%） for pneumatic dilatation （PD）. One study evaluated the efficacy of HM after failure of PD combined with botulinum toxin injection （83%）, The most common complications were perforation and gastroesophageal reflux, CONCLUSION： HM has the best efficacy in patients with recurrent achiasia who were treated with HM as first-line treatment, Future studies should focus on how to increase the success rate and decrease the complications of HM.

Is Dor fundoplication optimum after laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia? A meta-analysis

AIM:To compare the outcome of acid reflux prevention by Dor fundoplication after laparoscopic Heller myotomy(LHM)for achalasia.METHODS:Electronic database PubMed,Ovid(Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews,EmBase and Ovid MEDLINE)and Cochrane Library were searched between January 1995 and September 2012.Bibliographic citation management software(EndNote X3)was used for extracted literature management.Quality assessment of random controlled studies(RCTs)and non-RCTs was performed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.1.0and a modification of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale,respectively.The data were analyzed using Review Manager(Version 5.1),and sensitivity analysis was performed by sequentially omitting each study.RESULTS:Finally,6 studies,including a total of 523achalasia patients,compared Dor fundoplication with other types of fundoplication after LHM(Dor-other group),and 8 studies,including a total of 528 achalasia patients,compared Dor fundoplication with no fundoplication after LHM(Dor-no group).Dor fundoplication was associated with a significantly higher recurrence rate of clinical regurgitation and pathological acid reflux compared with the other fundoplication group(OR=7.16,95%CI:1.25-40.93,P=0.03,and OR=3.79,95%CI:1.23-11.72,P=0.02,respectively).In addition,there were no significant differences between Dor fundoplication and no fundoplication in all subjects.Other outcomes,including complications,dysphagia,postoperative physiologic testing,and operation-related data displayed no significant differences in the two comparison groups.CONCLUSION:Dor fundoplication is not the optimum procedure after LHM for achalasia.We suggest more attention should be paid on quality of life among different fundoplications.

Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction successfully treated with laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication: First case report in the literature

BACKGROUND Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction(EGJOO) is a rare syndrome,characterized by an elevation of the integrated relaxation pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, not accompanied by alterations in esophageal motility that may lead to the criteria for achalasia. We were unable to find any prior report of the combination of Heller myotomy with anterior partial fundoplication(Dor) as the treatment for EGJOO. We herein report a case of EGJOO treated with laparoscopic Heller myotomy combined with Dor fundoplication.CASE SUMMARY A 26-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of solid dysphagia and a 30-kg weight loss. He was treated with oral nifedipine, isosorbide, and omeprazole,without resolution of symptoms. An upper gastrointestinal series(barium swallow) revealed a "bird's beak" sign. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was positive for Los Angeles grade A peptic esophagitis. High-resolution esophageal manometry was compatible with EGJOO. Esophageal pH monitoring showed pathological acid reflux both in orthostatic and decubitus position. An 8-cm laparoscopic Heller myotomy combined with an anterior 220° Dor fundoplication was performed. Solid diet was introduced on postoperative day 2, and the patient was discharged home the same day. At 17-mo follow-up, he reported no symptoms. Barium swallow was compatible with complete radiologic resolution.Both esophageal manometry and upper endoscopy showed normal findings 9 mo after the operation.CONCLUSION Surgical treatment with Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication is a potential treatment option for EGJOO refractory to medical treatment.

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy with or without partial fundoplication: A matter of debate

AIM: To present our experience of laparoscopic Heller stretching myotomy followed by His angle reconstruction as surgical approach to esophageal achalasia.METHODS: Thirty-two patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy; an anterior partial fundoplication in 17,and angle of His reconstruction in 15 cases represented the antireflux procedure of choice.RESULTS: There were no morbidity and mortality recorded in both anterior funduplication and angle of His reconstruction groups. No differences were detected in terms of recurrent dysphagia, p.o. reflux or medical therapy.CONCLUSION: To reduce the incidence of recurrent achalasia after laparoscopic Heller myotomy, we believe that His' angle reconstruction is a safe and effective alternative to the anterior fundoplication.

Direct cost variance analysis of peroral endoscopic myotomy vs heller myotomy for management of achalasia:A tertiary referral center experience

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic Heller myotomy(LHM)has been the traditional surgical treatment for achalasia.Recently,peroral endoscopic myotomy(POEM)has demonstrated similar clinical outcomes with shorter procedure times.Studies comparing the direct cost-effectiveness of POEM vs LHM are limited.AIM To compare costs of POEM vs LHM.METHODS Haider SA et al.Comparing costs:POEM vs Heller myotomy WJGE https://www.wjgnet.com 594 October 16,2023 Volume 15 Issue 10 This retrospective chart review aimed to compare the outcomes and cost of clinical care between patients who underwent POEM and LHM procedures for achalasia.The study was conducted at a tertiary academic center from January 2019 to December 2020.Clinical outcomes,including post-operative Eckardt scores and adverse events,were assessed and compared between the two groups.Direct cost variance analysis was utilized to evaluate the cost of clinical care incurred by patients undergoing POEM in the year preceding the procedure,during the index admission,and one year post-procedure,in comparison to patients undergoing LHM.RESULTS Of 30 patients were included(15 POEM and 15 LHM)in the study.Patients in the POEM group had a mean Eckardt score of 0.5±0.5 post-procedure,which was no different from patients in the LHM group(0.7±0.6,P=0.17)indicating comparative efficacy.However,the total costs of the admission for the procedure in the LHM group were on average$1827 more expensive than in the POEM group(P<0.01).Total healthcare costs one year prior to index procedure were$7777 higher in the LHM group,but not statistically different(P=0.34).The patients in the LHM group one year after the index procedure had accrued$19730.24 larger total cost,although this was not statistically different from POEM group(P=0.68).CONCLUSION Despite similar clinical outcomes,the cost of the index procedure admission for POEM was significantly lower than for LHM.The difference was primarily related to shorter time increments utilized in the operating room during the index procedure,and shorter length of hospital stay following POEM.

Efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy vs other achalasia treatments in improving esophageal function

AIM: To assess and compare the esophageal function after peroral endoscopic myotomy(POEM) vs other conventional treatments in achalasia.METHODS: Chart review of all achalasia patients who underwent POEM, laparoscopic Heller myotomy(LHM) or pneumatic dilation(PD) at our institution between January 2012 and March 2015 was performed. Patient demographics, type of achalasia, prior treatments, pre- and post-treatment timed barium swallow(TBE) and high-resolution esophageal manometry(HREM) findings were compared between the three treatment groups. Patients who had both pre- and 2 mo posttreatment TBE or HREM were included in the final analysis. TBE parameters compared were barium column height, width and volume of barium remaining at 1 and 5 min. HREM parameters compared were basal lower esophageal sphincter(LES) pressures and LES-integrated relaxation pressures(IRP). Data are presented as mean ± SD, median [25th, 75 th percentiles] or frequency(percent). Analysis of variance, KruskalWallis test, Pearsons χ~2 test and Fishers Exact tests were used for analysis.RESULTS: A total of 200 achalasia patients were included of which 36 underwent POEM, 22 underwent PD and 142 underwent LHM. POEM patients were older(55.4 ± 16.8 years vs 46.5 ± 15.7 years, P = 0.013) and had higher BMI than LHM(29.1 ± 5.9 kg/m^2 vs 26 ± 5.1 kg/m^2, P = 0.012). More number of patients in POEM and PD groups had undergone prior treatments compared to LHM group(72.2% vs 68.2% vs 44.3% respectively, P = 0.003). At 2 mo post-treatment, all TBE parameters including barium column height, width and volume remaining at 1 and 5 min improved significantly in all three treatment groups(P = 0.01 to P < 0.001) except the column height at 1 min in PD group(P = 0.11). At 2 mo post-treatment, there was significant improvement in basal LES pressure and LES-IRP in both LHM(40.5 mm Hg vs 14.5 mm Hg and 24 mm Hg vs 7.1 mm Hg respectively, P < 0.001) and POEM groups(38.7 mm Hg vs 11.4 mm Hg and 23.6 mm Hg vs 6.6 mm Hg respectively, P < 0.001). However, when the efficacy of three treatments were compared to each other in terms of improvement in TBE or HREM parameters at 2 mo, there was no significant difference(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: POEM, PD and LHM were all effective in improving esophageal function in achalasia at shortterm. There was no difference in efficacy between the three treatments.

Submucosal tunnel endoscopy:Peroral endoscopicmyotomy and peroral endoscopic tumor resection

Peroral endoscopic myotomy(POEM) is an innovative,minimally invasive, endoscopic treatment for esophageal achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders, emerged from the natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery procedures, and since the first human case performed by Inoue in 2008, showed exciting results in international level, with more than 4000 cases globally up to now. POEM showed superior characteristics than the standard 100-year-old surgical or laparoscopic Heller myotomy(LHM), not only for all types of esophageal achalasia [classical(Ⅰ), vigorous(Ⅱ), spastic(Ⅲ), Chicago Classification], but also for advanced sigmoid type achalasia(S1 and S2), failed LHM, or other esophageal motility disorders(diffuse esophageal spasm, nutcracker esophagus or Jackhammer esophagus). POEM starts with a mucosal incision, followed by submucosal tunnel creation crossing the esophagogastric junction(EGJ) and myotomy. Finally the mucosal entry is closed with endoscopic clip placement. POEM permitted relatively free choice of myotomy length and localization. Although it is technically demanding procedure, POEM can be performed safely and achieves very good control of dysphagia and chest pain. Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common troublesome side effect, and is well controllable with proton pump inhibitors. Furthermore, POEM opened the era of submucosal tunnel endoscopy, with many other applications. Based on the same principles with POEM, in combination with new technological developments, such as endoscopic suturing, peroral endoscopic tumor resection(POET), is safely and effectively applied for challenging submucosal esophageal, EGJ and gastric cardia tumors(submucosal tumors), emerged from muscularis propria. POET showed up to know promising results, however, it is restricted to specialized centers. The present article reviews the recent data of POEM and POET and discussed controversial issues that need further study and future perspectives.

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy for achalasia: An American perspective

Achalasia is an uncommon esophageal motility disorder characterized by the selective loss of enteric neurons leading to absence of peristalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.Per-oral endoscopic myotomy(POEM) is a novel modality for the treatment of achalasia performed by gastroenterologists and surgeons.It represents a natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES) approach to Heller myotomy.POEM has the minimal invasiveness of an endoscopic procedure that can duplicate results of the surgical Heller myotomy.POEM is conceptually similar to a surgical myotomy without the inherent external incisions and post-operative care associated with surgery.Initial high success and low complications rates promise a great future for this technique.In fact,POEM has been successfully performed on patients with end-stage achalasia as an initial treatment reserving esophagectomy for those without good response.The volume of POEMs performed worldwide has grown exponentially.In fact,surgeons who have performed Heller myotomy have embraced POEM as the preferred intervention for achalasia.However,the niche of POEM remains to be defined and long term results are awaited.We describe our experience with POEM having performed the first POEM outside of Japan in 2009,the evolution of our technique,and give our perspective on its future.

Laparoscopic esophagomyotomy for achalasia in children:Areview

Esophageal achalasia in children is rare but ultimately requires endoscopic or surgical treatment. Historically, Heller esophagomyotomy has been recommended as the treatment of choice. The refinement of minimally invasive techniques has shifted the trend of treatment toward laparoscopic Heller myotomy(LHM) in adults and children with achalasia. A review of the available literature on LHM performed in patients < 18 years of age was conducted. The pediatric LHM experience is limited to one multiinstitutional and several single-institutional retrospective studies. Available data suggest that LHM is safe and effective. There is a paucity of evidence on the need for and superiority of concurrent antireflux procedures. In addition, a more complete portrayal of complications and long-term(> 5 years) outcomes is needed. Due to the infrequency of achalasia in children, these characteristics are unlikely to be defined without collaboration between multiple pediatric surgery centers. The introduction of peroral endoscopic myotomy and single-incision techniques, continue the trend of innovative approaches that may eventually become the standard of care.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy vs laparoscopic myotomy and partial fundoplication for esophageal achalasia: A single-center randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Achalasia is a rare benign esophageal motor disorder characterized by incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter(LES). The treatment of achalasia is not curative, but rather is aimed at reducing LES pressure. In patients who have failed noninvasive therapy, surgery should be considered. Myotomy with partial fundoplication has been considered the first-line treatment for non-advanced achalasia. Recently, peroral endoscopic myotomy(POEM), a technique that employs the principles of submucosal endoscopy to perform the equivalent of a surgical myotomy,has emerged as a promising minimally invasive technique for the management of this condition.AIM To compare POEM and laparoscopic myotomy and partial fundoplication(LM-PF) regarding their efficacy and outcomes for the treatment of achalasia.METHODS Forty treatment-naive adult patients who had been diagnosed with achalasia based on clinical and manometric criteria(dysphagia score ≥ II and Eckardt score > 3) were randomized to undergo either LM-PF or POEM. The outcome measures were anesthesia time, procedure time, symptom improvement, reflux esophagitis(as determined with the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire), barium column height at 1 and 5 min(on a barium esophagogram), pressure at the LES, the occurrence of adverse events(AEs), length of stay(LOS), and quality of life(QoL).RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences between the LM-PF and POEM groups regarding symptom improvement at 1, 6, and 12 mo of follow-up(P = 0.192, P = 0.242, and P = 0.242, respectively). However, the rates of reflux esophagitis at 1, 6, and 12 mo of follow-up were significantly higher in the POEM group(P = 0.014, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002, respectively). There were also no statistical differences regarding the manometry values, the occurrence of AEs, or LOS. Anesthesia time and procedure time were significantly shorter in the POEM group than in the LM-PF group(185.00 ± 56.89 and 95.70 ± 30.47 min vs 296.75 ± 56.13 and 218.75 ± 50.88 min,respectively;P = 0.001 for both). In the POEM group, there were improvements in all domains of the QoL questionnaire, whereas there were improvements in only three domains in the LM-PF group.CONCLUSION POEM and LM-PF appear to be equally effective in controlling the symptoms of achalasia,shortening LOS, and minimizing AEs. Nevertheless, POEM has the advantage of improving all domains of QoL, and shortening anesthesia and procedure times but with a significantly higher rate of gastroesophageal reflux.

Oesophagocardiomyotomy for Achalasia Cardia via Thoracotomy in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana: A 5-Year Retrospective Review

Achalasia cardia is a primary oesophageal motility disorder of unknown aetiology characterized manometrically by insufficient relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) and loss of oesophageal peristalsis;radiographically by aperistalsis, oesophageal dilation with minimal LES opening, bird-beak appearance, poor emptying of barium;and endoscopically by dilated oesophagus with retained saliva, liquid and undigested food particles in the absence of mucosal stricturing or tumour. Achalasia cardia patients usually present with difficulty in swallowing both solids and liquids and this may be associated with regurgitation, heartburn and chest pains. Treatment options include medical or pharmacologic therapy, botulinum toxin injection, pneumatic dilation and oesophagocardiomyotomy or the Heller myotomy with or without antireflux procedure and recently the POEM (Perioral oesophageal myotomy). Herein, we present our experience with four cases managed surgically via thoracotomy without antireflux surgery over a 5-year period, from January 2015 to June 2019 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the second largest teaching hospital in Ghana.

腹腔镜Heller肌切开术与经口内镜下肌切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症疗效及安全性的meta分析

目的系统评价腹腔镜Heller肌切开术(LHM)与经口内镜下肌切开术(POEM)治疗贲门失弛缓症的疗效及安全性。方法计算机检索PubMed、EMbase、The Cochrane Library、Web of Science及万方数据库、维普数据库、中国知网数据库(CNKI),搜索建库至2023年11月公开发表的相关文献,采用RevMan 5.0软件进行meta分析。结果共纳入15篇文献,其中1篇是随机对照试验,8篇是回顾性队列研究,6篇是前瞻性非随机对照试验。共1439例患者,LHM组696例,POEM组743例。Meta分析结果显示,与LHM组相比,POEM组术后吞咽困难复发率更低[OR=2.01,95%CI(1.17,3.44),P=0.01]、手术时间更短[MD=22.66,95%CI(5.57,39.75),P=0.009]、住院时间更短[MD=0.55,95%CI(0.38,0.71),P<0.01]、术后恢复正常生活天数更少[MD=4.49,95%CI(4.00,4.97),P<0.01],在胃食管反流病发生率和术后皮下气肿发生率上LHM低于POEM[OR=0.64,95%CI(0.45,0.90),P=0.009;OR=0.33,95%CI(0.11,0.99),P=0.05];而在术后总并发症发生率、术后质子泵抑制剂使用率、术后6个月Eckardt评分等方面,两个术式差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论与LHM相比,POEM术后吞咽困难复发率、手术时间、住院时间、术后恢复正常生活天数更具优势。

Z-per-oral endoscopic myotomy as definitive prevention of a bleeding ulcer in Zenker’s diverticulum:A case report

BACKGROUND Bleeding from Zenker’s diverticulum is extremely rare.At present,there are no guidelines for the management of bleeding Zenker’s diverticulum because of its rarity.Per-oral endoscopic myotomy(Z-POEM)is a precision myotomy technique and minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum.We present a systematic review and a rare case of bleeding Zenker’s diverticulum that was effectively treated using Z-POEM.CASE SUMMARY A 72-year-old presented after 3 d of hematemesis.He had a 2-year history of progressive dysphagia and reported no antiplatelet,anticoagulant,or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.His vital signs were stable,and the hematocrit was 36%.Previous gastroscopy and barium swallow had revealed Zenker’s diverticulum before the bleeding occurred.We performed gastroscopy and found a 5-mm ulcer with a minimal blood clot and spontaneously resolved bleeding.Z-POEM for definitive treatment was performed to reduce accumulation of food and promote ulcer healing.He had no complications and no bleeding;at the follow-up 6 mo later,the ulcer was healed.CONCLUSION Z-POEM can be definitive prevention for bleeding ulcer in Zenker’s diverticulum that promotes ulcer healing,reducing the risk of recurrent bleeding.Z-POEM is also a definitive endoscopic surgery for treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum.

Navigating reflux disease after achalasia treatments:Balancing risks and benefits

The peroral endoscopic myotomy(POEM)procedure has revolutionized the management of achalasia in many centres around the world as it offers patients a minimally invasive endoscopic solution to their dysphagia caused by achalasia.Alongside its success in alleviating dysphagia,concerns regarding postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease have emerged as a pertinent issue which are not fully resolved.In this study,Nabi et al have comprehensively reviewed the topic of the prediction,prevention and management of gastroesophageal reflux after POEM.POEM is a purely endoscopic procedure which is usually performed without any anti-reflux procedure.Certain patients may be better served by a laparoscopic Heller’s myotomy and fundoplication and it is important that gastroenterologists and surgeons provide comprehensive risks and benefits of each achalasia treatment option so that patients can decide what treatment is best for them.This article by Nabi et al provides a comprehensive review of the current status of this issue to allow these discussions to occur.

经口内镜下肌切开术与经胸Heller术治疗贲门失弛缓症的临床疗效对比

目的对比分析贲门失弛缓患者经口内镜下肌切开术(POEM)与经胸食管贲门部黏膜外肌层切开手术(即Heller术)的临床疗效及安全性。方法回顾性研究2012年1月-2014年10月该院78例确诊为贲门失弛缓症患者。其中,接受POEM术患者为42例,接受Heller术患者36例,观察并对比两组患者术后症状缓解情况、食管下段括约肌(LES)静息压力、Eckardt评分、术中和术后并发症发生率、手术时长、住院时间及住院费用等。结果两组患者术后均获得明显的临床缓解,POEM组患者的并发症发生率、Eckardt评分及LES静息压力和Heller术组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。而POEM组患者的手术耗时、住院时长及住院费用均明显低于Heller术组(P<0.05)。结论 POEM作为一种近期疗效显著的内镜微创手术方式,与外科手术疗效相当,对患者造成的创伤小,痛苦小,使患者耐受性好,住院时间及住院费用减少,值得推广。

腹腔镜Heller手术与经口内镜下肌切开术治疗贲门失弛缓症的临床效果比较

目的比较腹腔镜Heller手术(laparoscopic heller myotomy,LHM)和经口内镜下肌切开术(peroral endoscopic myotomy,POEM)治疗贲门失弛缓症的临床疗效,探讨POEM术后胃食管反流并发症的治疗策略。方法采用回顾性队列研究的方法,收集2012年10月至2017年4月我院收治的61例贲门失弛缓症患者的临床资料,其中30例行腹腔镜Heller手术加部分胃底折叠术(Dor)为腹腔镜组(LHM组);31例行经口内镜下肌切开术为内镜组(POEM组),随访至2019年4月,比较两组患者的基本资料、手术情况、临床疗效以及胃食管反流并发症(包括胃食管反流症状、病理性酸反流、食管炎)的情况。结果患者均顺利完成手术,无围术期死亡。LHM组和POEM组患者在手术时间、术中出血量、围术期并发症、平均住院日、住院费用等方面差异无统计学意义。LHM组和POEM组的治疗有效率分别为86.7%(26/30)和90.3%(28/31),差异无统计学意义。两组患者术后Ecardt评分、下段食管静息压较术前均明显下降(P<0.001),但两组之间比较,差异无统计学意义;POEM组术后胃食管反流症状(3/27 vs 11/20,P=0.018)、病理性酸反流(4/26 vs 12/18,P=0.024)、食管炎(2/28 vs 9/22,P=0.023)发生率显著高于LHM组。临床相关胃食管反流发生率在POEM组更高(1/29 vs 7/24,P=0.026)。结论 LHM与POEM治疗贲门失弛缓症的安全性及中远期疗效相近,但是POEM手术缺乏抗反流措施,可导致胃食管反流发生率升高,术后应密切随访并积极干预。