Background,techniques,applications,current trends,and future directions of minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery:A review of literature

Across many of the surgical specialties,the use of minimally invasive techniques that utilize indirect visualization has been increasingly replacing traditional techniques which utilize direct visualization.Arthroscopic surgery of the appendicular skeleton has evolved dramatically and become an integral part of musculoskeletal surgery over the last several decades,allowing surgeons to achieve similar or better outcomes,while reducing cost and recovery time.However,to date,the axial skeleton,with its close proximity to critical neural and vascular structures,has not adopted endoscopic techniques at as rapid of a rate.Over the past decade,increased patient demand for less invasive spine surgery combined with surgeon desire to meet these demands has driven significant evolution and innovation in endoscopic spine surgery.In addition,there has been an enormous advancement in technologies that assist in navigation and automation that help surgeons circumvent limitations of direct visualization inherent to less invasive techniques.There are currently a multitude of endoscopic techniques and approaches that can be utilized in the treatment of spine disorders,many of which are evolving rapidly.Here we present a review of the field of endoscopic spine surgery,including the background,techniques,applications,current trends,and future directions,to help providers gain a better understanding of this growing modality in spine surgery.

Removal of a large rectal polyp with endoscopic submucosal dissection-trans-anal rectoscopic assisted minimally invasive surgery hybrid technique:A case report

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)can be used for the en-bloc removal of superficial rectal lesions;however,the lack of a traction system makes the procedure long and difficult in the presence of extensive lesions.CASE SUMMARY A large polyp occupying 2/3 of the rectal circumference and extending 5 cm in length was removed by ESD with the help of laparoscopic forceps introduced via trans-anal rectoscopic assisted minimally invasive surgery,a disposable platform designed to aid in transanal minimally invasive surgery.Traction of the polyp by forceps during the operation was dynamic,and applied at various points and in various directions.The polyp was removed en-bloc without complications in 1 h and 55 min.A sigmoidoscopy performed 50 d later showed normal healing without polyp recurrence.CONCLUSION The technique presented here could overcome the issues caused by lack of traction during ESD for rectal lesions.

Present situation of minimally invasive surgical treatment for early gastric cancer

Minimally invasive surgery is a kind of surgical operation,which is performed by using professional surgical instruments and equipment to inactivate,resect,repair or reconstruct the pathological changes,deformities and wounds in human body through micro-trauma or micro-approach,in order to achieve the goal of treatment,its surgical effect is equivalent to the traditional open surgery,while avoiding the morbidity of conventional surgical wounds.In addition,it also has the advantages of less trauma,less blood loss during operation,less psychological burden and quick recovery on patients,and these minimally invasive techniques provide unique value for the examination and treatment of gastric cancer patients.Surgical minimally invasive surgical techniques have developed rapidly and offer numerous options for the treatment of early gastric cancer(EGC):endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR),underwater EMR(UEMR),endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),endoscopic full-thickness resection(EFTR),endoscopic submu-cosal excavation(ESE),submucosal tunnel endoscopic resection,laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery(LECS);Among them,EMR,EFTR and LECS technologies have a wide range of applications and different modific-ations have been derived from their respective surgical operations,such as band-assisted EMR(BA-EMR),conven-tional EMR(CEMR),over-the-scope clip-assisted EFTR,no-touch EFTR,the inverted LECS,closed LECS,and so on.These new and improved minimally invasive surgeries are more precise,specific and effective in treating different types of EGC.

Transanal minimally invasive surgery using laparoscopic instruments of the rectum:A review

Transanal minimally invasive surgery(TAMIS)was first described in 2010 as an alternative to transanal endoscopic microsurgery(TEM).The TAMIS technique can be access to the proximal and mid-rectum for resection of benign and earlystage malignant rectal lesions and also used for noncurative intent surgery of more advanced lesions in patients who are not candidates for radical surgery.TAMIS has a shorter learning curve,reduced device setup time,flexibility in instrument use,and versatility in application than TEM.Also,TAMIS shows similar results in a view of the operation time,conversion rate,reoperation rate,and complication to TEM.For these reasons,TAMIS is an easily accessible,technically feasible,and cost-effective alternative to TEM.Overall,TAMIS has enabled the performance of high-quality local excision of rectal lesions by many colorectal surgeons.As TAMIS becomes more broadly utilized such as pelvic abscess drainage,rectal stenosis,and treatment of anastomotic dehiscence,the acquisition of appropriate training must be ensured,and the continued assessment and assurance of outcome must be maintained.

Surgical instruments hyalinization:Occlusion removal in minimally invasive endoscopic surgery

Minimal invasion is an important trend in surgery.However,the endoscope,as one of the key devices for monitoring the process of minimally invasive surgery,is limited by its size and working space it operates in,which result in a considerably narrow field of view.In particular,when a surgical instrument enters through the tool channel,the instrument occupies most of the area in an endoscopic image.This hampers the surgeon’s field of view and has a negative impact on the surgery.This study proposes a novel method for removing the occlusion caused by surgical instruments in endoscopic images by making foreground occlusions on endoscopic images transparent using image restoration and interframe information filling.Compared with unprocessed images,this method can provide a clearer field of view that is necessary for minimally invasive endoscopic surgeries and improve the quality of surgeries.Clinical endoscopic images are used to verify the feasibility of the proposed method,and the results show that the proposed method improves the visual effect of endoscopic images by removing surgical-instrument occlusions.This demonstrates the considerable potential of the proposed method for use in clinical applications.

Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for gastric tumors: Perspective for actual practice and oncological benefits

Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery(LECS) is a surgical technique that combines laparoscopic partial gastrectomy and endoscopic submucosal dissection. LECS requires close collaboration between skilled laparoscopic surgeons and experienced endoscopists. For successful LECS, experience alone is not sufficient. Instead, familiarity with the characteristics of both laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic intervention is necessary to overcome various technical problems. LECS was developed mainly as a treatment for gastric submucosal tumors without epithelial lesions, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs). Local gastric wall dissection without lymphadenectomy is adequate for the treatment of gastric GISTs. Compared with conventional simple wedge resection with a linear stapler, LECS can provide both optimal surgical margins and oncological benefit that result in functional preservation of the residual stomach. As technical characteristics, however, classic LECS involves intentional opening of the gastric wall, resulting in a risk of tumor dissemination with contamination by gastric juice. Therefore, several modified LECS techniques have been developed to av-oid even subtle tumor exposure. Furthermore, LECS for early gastric cancer has been attempted according tothe concept of sentinel lymph node dissection. LECS is a prospective treatment for GISTs and might become a future therapeutic option even for early gastric cancer. Interventional endoscopists and laparoscopic surgeons collaboratively explore curative resection. Simultaneous intraluminal approach with endoscopy allows surgeons to optimizes the resection area. LECS, not simple wedge resection, achieves minimally invasive treatment and allows for oncologically precise resection. We herein present detailed tips and pitfalls of LECS and discuss various technical considerations.

Transumbilical endoscopic surgery:History,present situation and perspectives

Transumbilical endoscopic surgery or laparo-endoscopic single site(LESS)surgery has become an exciting area of surgical development as innovation continues to move in the 21st century to minimally invasive surgery.The history,present situation and perspectives are reviewed and the nomenclature of this technique is discussed in this article.The range of this technique has been applied in almost all abdominal diseases,surgeries for morbid obesity,hernia and so on,in recent years.It is estimated that 50%-80%of traditional laparoscopic surgery could be performed transumbilically in the next five years according to the LESSCAR consensus.Although the concept of transumbilical laparoscopic surgery is gaining traction rapidly and the instruments have been improved greatly, we should not advocate for slightly improved cosmetic value over safety.Multicenter,randomized and clinical trials are necessary to further elucidate the safety and efficiency of this new technique.Research that examines the efficacy of the new instruments on the market may be helpful to simplify the confusing landscape of new and novel products designed for this purpose.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery as optimal option in treatment of rare rectal lesions:a single centre experience

AIM To analyze the outcomes of transanal endoscopic microsurgery(TEM) in the treatment of rare rectal condition like mesenchymal tumors, condylomas, endometriosis and melanoma. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a twenty-three years database. Fifty-two patients were enrolled in this study. The lesions were considered suitable for TEM if they were within 20 cm from the anus. All of them underwent an accurate preoperative workup consisting in clinical examination, total colonoscopy with biopsies, endoscopic ultrasonography, and pelvic computerized tomography or pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. Operative time, intraoperative complications, rate of conversion, tumor size, postoperative morbidity, mortality, the length of hospital stay, local and distant recurrence were analyzed.RESULTS Among the 1328 patients treated by TEM in our department, the 52 patients with rectal abnormalities other than adenoma or adenocarcinoma represented 4.4%. There were 30 males(57.7%) and 22 females(42.3%). Mean age was 55 years(median = 60, range = 24-78). This series included 14(26.9%) gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 21 neuroendocrine tumors(40.4%), 1 ganglioneuroma(1.9%), 2 solitary ulcers in the rectum(3.8%), 6 cases of rectal endometriosis(11.5%), 6 cases of rectal condylomatosis(11.5%) and 2 rectal melanomas(3.8%). Mean lesion diameter was 2.7 cm(median: 4, range: 0.4-8). Mean distance from the anal verge was 9.5 cm(median: 10, range: 4-15). One patient operated for rectal melanoma developed distant metastases and died two years after the operation. We experienced 2 local recurrences(3.8%) with an overall survival equal to 97.6%(95%CI: 95%-99%) at the end of follow-up and a disease free survival of 98%(95%CI: 96%-99%).CONCLUSION We could conclude that TEM is an important therapeutical option for rectal rare conditions.

Current developments in natural orifices transluminal endoscopic surgery:An evidence-based review

Tremendous advances have been made in recent years addressing the key obstacles to safe performance and introduction of human natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). Animal studies have focused on identifying optimal solutions to these obstacles, in particular methods of creating transluminal access,safe closure of the point of access, and development of a multitasking platform with dedicated instruments. Whether the performance data generated from these animal studies can be reproduced in humans has yet to be determined. Reports of human NOTES procedures are emerging, and the possibility of accomplishing human NOTES based on existing technology has been demonstrated. However, dedicated platforms and devices are still lacking to allow for pure NOTES procedures, and whether NOTES can deliver the postulated benef its of earlier recovery and improved cosmesis remains uncertain.

Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery for gastric submucosal tumors

AIM:To assess the feasibility,safety,and advantages of minimally invasive laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery(LECS)for gastric submucosal tumors(SMT).METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 101 consecutive patients,who had undergone partial,proximal,or distal gastrectomy using LECS for gastric SMT at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2006to April 2013.All patients were followed up by visit or telephone.Clinical data,surgical approach,pathological features such as the size,location,and pathological type of each tumor;and follow-up results were analyzed.The feasibility,safety and effectiveness of LECS for gastric SMT were evaluated,especially for patients with tumors located near the cardia or pylorus.RESULTS:The 101 patients included 43(42.6%)menand 58(57.4%)women,with mean age of 51.2±13.1 years(range,14-76 years).The most common symptom was belching.Almost all(n=97)patients underwent surgery with preservation of the cardia and pylorus,with the other four patients undergoing proximal or distal gastrectomy.The mean distance from the lesion to the cardia or pylorus was 3.4±1.3 cm,and the minimum distance from the tumor edge to the cardia was 1.5 cm.Tumor pathology included gastrointestinal stromal tumor in 78 patients,leiomyoma in 13,carcinoid tumors in three,ectopic pancreas in three,lipoma in two,glomus tumor in one,and inflammatory pseudotumor in one.Tumor size ranged from 1 to8.2 cm,with 65(64.4%)lesions<2 cm,32(31.7%)>2 cm,and four>5 cm.Sixty-six lesions(65.3%)were located in the fundus,21(20.8%)in the body,10(9.9%)in the antrum,three(3.0%)in the cardia,and one(1.0%)in the pylorus.During a median follow-up of 28 mo(range,1-69 mo),none of these patients experienced recurrence or metastasis.The three patients who underwent proximal gastrectomy experienced symptoms of regurgitation and belching.CONCLUSION:Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery is feasible and safe for patients with gastric submucosal tumor.Endoscopic intraoperative localization and support can help preserve the cardia and pylorus during surgery.

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in urology: The Chinese experience

Objective:To describe the Chinese experience of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES)in urology.Methods:From December 2008 to May 2017,35 animal experiments and 305 clinical surgeries of NOTES or natural orifices specimen extractions(NOSE)were performed in China.The animal experiments included five kidney biopsies,24 nephrectomies and six partial nephrectomies.The clinical surgeries included 12 transvaginal NOSE(TV-NOSE),266 hybrid transvaginal NOTES(TV-NOTES)and 27 pure TV-NOTES.The TV-NOSE procedure was performed in five transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site(U-LESS)nephrectomies,four suprapubic-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site surgery(SA-LESS)nephroureterectomies,and three laparoscopic radical cystectomies.The hybrid TV-NOTES procedure included 210 nephrectomies,31 adrenalectomies,eight nephroureterectomies,13 partial nephrectomies,and four heminephrectomies.The pure TV-NOTES procedure included five renal cyst decortications and 22 nephrectomies.Results:A total of 29 animal experiments were successfully performed.One partial nephrectomy was converted to standard laparoscopic surgery.Two kidney biopsies and two nephrectomies were unsuccessful.A total of 297 clinical surgeries were successfully performed.Six patients who underwent hybrid TV-NOTES were converted to open surgery.Two patients who underwent pure TV-NOTES were converted to SA-LESS.There were 22 major complications,16 occurred intraoperatively and six postoperatively.The mean visual analog score(VAS)of 48 h after the operation was 2.5 points in TV-NOSE,2.3 points in hybrid TV-NOTES and 1.7 points in pure TV-NOTES.The mean follow-up of 50.6(3.0-87.0)months showed that all patients were in good condition.The umbilicus scars were nearly invisible in TV-NOSE and hybrid TV-NOTES.The vaginal incision healed well.Conclusions:TV-NOSE and TV-NOTES are feasible,safe,and effective with little injury,low pain,fast recovery,and good cosmetic outcomes in properly selected patients.They are worth consideration for urological clinical practice.

Are laparoscopic cholecystectomy and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery gallbladder preserving cholecystolithotomy truly comparable?A propensity matched study

BACKGROUND Cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment option for symptomatic gallstones.However,another option is gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy which preserves the normal physiological functions of the gallbladder in patients desiring to avoid surgical resection.AIM To compare the feasibility,safety and effectiveness of pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES)gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy vs laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)for symptomatic gallstones.METHODS We adopted propensity score matching(1:1)to compare trans-rectal NOTES cholecystolithotomy and LC patients with symptomatic gallstones.We reviewed 2511 patients with symptomatic gallstones from December 2017 to December 2020;517 patients met the matching criteria(NOTES,110;LC,407),yielding 86 pairs.RESULTS The technical success rate for the NOTES group was 98.9%vs 100%for the LC group.The median procedure time was 119 min[interquartile ranges(IQRs),95-175]with NOTES vs 60 min(IQRs,48-90)with LC(P<0.001).The frequency of post-operative pain was similar between NOTES and LC:4.7%(4/85)vs 5.8%(5/95)(P=0.740).The median duration of post-procedure fasting with NOTES was 1 d(IQRs,1-2)vs 2 d with LC(IQRs,1-3)(P<0.001).The median post-operative hospital stay for NOTES was 4 d(IQRs,3-6)vs 4 d for LC(IQRs,3-5),(P=0.092).During follow-up,diarrhea was significantly less with NOTES(5.8%)compared to LC(18.6%)(P=0.011).Gallstones and cholecystitis recurrence within a median of 12 mo(range:6-40 mo)following NOTES was 10.5%and 3.5%,respectively.Concerns regarding the presence of abdominal wall scars were present in 17.4%(n=15/86)of patients following LC(mainly women).CONCLUSION NOTES provides a feasible new alternative scar-free treatment for patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo cholecystectomy.This minimally invasive organ-sparing procedure both removes the gallstones and preserves the physiological function of the gallbladder.Reducing gallstone recurrence is essential to achieving widespread clinical adoption of NOTES.

Hybrid laparo-endoscopic access:New approach to surgical treatment for giant fibrovascular polyp of esophagus:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Fibrovascular polyps are rare type of esophageal submucosal neoplasms.They are highly vascularized and can cause difficulty swallowing and even fatal complications such as uncontrolled bleeding and death caused by asphyxiation in case of tumor migration to oropharynx.In the article we describe a novel hybrid technique to surgical treatment–an endoscopic submucosal dissection with laparoscopic removal of the tumor.CASE SUMMARY The patient with a giant fibrovascular esophageal polyp presented with cough,discomfort in the throat,difficulty swallowing,and an episode of tumor migration into oropharynx.The patient was investigated with several imaging studies and was diagnosed with a giant highly vascularized esophageal fibrovascular polyp.The follow-up period of eight months accompanied with no complications.CONCLUSION This method has been shown to have comparable rates of recurrence and a low risk of complications.

NOTES-Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery:Why not?

Since natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES) was first described by Anthony Kalloo,it has attracted tremendous interest from surgeons and gastroenterologist all around the world.This special issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery explores the current possibilities and future potential of the most disruptive revolution in the field of surgery represented by the NOTES approach.In the future,new technologies developed for this approach and deeper insight into several gastrointestinal diseases will lead to the design of completely new interven tional procedures and change the way we will operate,bringing us to the previously unimaginable goal of "no scar surgery".

Snare-assisted flexible endoscope in trans-gastric endoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery:A pilot animal study

BACKGROUND Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES)gallbladder-preserving surgery by flexible endoscopy is an emerging technology.However,the gallbladder fails to obtain traction and positioning functions during the operation.AIM To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new surgical method,“snare-assisted pure NOTES gallbladder-preserving surgery”.METHODS Eight miniature pigs were randomly divided into the experimental group[NOTES gallbladder-preserving surgery using the snare device,snare assisted(SA)]and the control group(NOTES gallbladder-preserving surgery without using the snare device,NC),with four cases in each group.The differences between the two groups of animals in operating time,operating workload,complications,adverse events,white blood cells,and liver function were determined.RESULTS No differences were found in the surgical success rate,gallbladder incision closure,white blood cell count,or liver function between the two groups.The total operating time,gallbladder incision blood loss,gallbladder disorientation time,gallbladder incision closure time,and workload scores on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index were significantly reduced in the SA group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION These results indicated that snare-assisted pure NOTES gallbladder-preservation surgery using standard endoscopic instruments reduced the difficulty of operation,shortened operation time,and did not increase complications in pigs.A new method for pure NOTES gallbladder-preservation surgery was provided.

Endoscopic and minimally-invasive ear surgery: A path to better outcomes

The development of endoscopic ear surgery techniques promises to change the way we approach ear surgery.In this review paper,we explore the current evidence,seek to determine the advantages of endoscopic ear surgery,and see if these advantages are both measureable and meaningful.The wide field of view of the endoscope allows the surgeon to better visualize the various recesses of the middle ear cleft.Endoscopes make it possible to address the target pathology transcanal,while minimizing dissection or normal tissue done purely for exposure,leading to the evolution of minimally-invasive ear surgery and reducing morbidity.When used in chronic ear surgery,endoscopy appears to have the potential to significantly reduce cholesteatoma recidivism rates.Using endoscopes as an adjunct can increase the surgeon's confidence in total cholesteatoma removal.By doing so,endoscopes reduce the need to reopen the mastoid during second-look surgery,help preserve the canal wall,or even change post-cholesteatoma follow-up protocols by channeling more patients away from a planned second-look.

Use of transanal minimally invasive surgery for endoscopic resection of rectal tumour:a technical note

Background:The aim of this article is to report and discuss a case of lower rectal cancer undergoing endoscopic transanal resection of tumour(ETART)using a transanal minimally invasive surgery(TAMIS)approach.Methods:A technical note on a case report.An innovative approach for ETART using TAMIS.Results:This is the first-ever case report of lower rectal cancer treated by ETART using a TAMIS approach.The procedure was completed successfully without any operative or peri-operative complication.Peri-operative flexible sigmoidoscopy confirmed a wide and patent rectal lumen.Conclusion:Use of a TAMIS approach for ETART to remove lower rectal cancer for palliation can be technically very effective compared with conventional ETART,due to the potential advantages of avoiding contaminant fluid spillage,easy access,better visualization compared with conventional ETART,and being user-friendly.The results from larger cohorts of patients undergoing TAMIS ETART are required before recommending the routine use of this technique.However,until then,this approach may be considered as an alternative to conventional ETART.

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.

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopy surgery:A review

Minimally invasive surgery started spreading worldwide in 1987,when the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed.Meanwhile,improvement of endoscopic equipment and instruments allowed gastroenterologists to attempt more aggressive endoluminal interventions,even beyond the wall barrier.The first transgastric peri-toneoscopy,in 2004,brought to light the concept of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES).The idea of incisionless surgery is attractive and has become a new goal for both surgeons and other people interested in this field of investigation.The authors present a review of all developments concerning NOTES,including animal studies and human experience.

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.