Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Between Peroral Esophageal Myotomy (POEM) and Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy

Eric S. Hungness, Ezra N. Teitelbaum, Byron F. Santos, Fahd O. Arafat, John E. Pandolfino, Peter J. Kahrilas, Nathaniel J. Soper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

226 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Peroral esophageal myotomy (POEM) is a novel endoscopic operation for the treatment of achalasia. Few POEM outcome data exist, and no study has compared POEM with the surgical standard, laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM). Methods: Perioperative outcomes were compared between POEM and LHM performed in a nonrandomized fashion. Patients in both groups met the following eligibility criteria: diagnosis of achalasia, age 18-85, and absence of prior achalasia treatment. Results: Eighteen patients underwent POEM, and 55 patients underwent LHM. Operative times were shorter for POEM (113 vs. 125 min, p <.05), and estimated blood loss was less (≤10 ml in all cases vs. 50 ml, p <.001). Myotomy lengths, complication rates, and length of stay were similar. Pain scores were similar upon post-anesthesia care unit arrival and on postoperative day 1 but were higher at 2 h for POEM patients (3.5 vs. 2, p =.03). Narcotic requirements were similar, although fewer POEM patients received ketorolac. POEM patients' Eckardt scores decreased (median 1 postop vs. 7 preop, p <.001), and 16 (89 %) patients had a treatment success (score ≤3) at median 6-month follow-up. Six weeks after POEM, routine follow-up manometry and esophagram showed normalization of esophagogastric junction pressures and contrast column heights. Conclusions: POEM and LHM appear to have similar perioperative outcomes. Further investigation is needed regarding long-term results after POEM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)228-235
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Achalasia
  • Laparoscopic Heller myotomy
  • Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery
  • Peroral endoscopic myotomy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Between Peroral Esophageal Myotomy (POEM) and Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this