Per-oral endoscopic myotomy with septotomy for the treatment of distal esophageal diverticula (D-POEM)

Background and aims Epinephric diverticula are frequently associated with esophageal motility disorder. Their management implies surgery, with 15% morbidity and 3% mortality rates. Flexible endoscopy could be an effective and safer approach for treating esophageal diverticulum with motility disorder. We report our experience of seven consecutive cases treated with per-oral endoscopic submucosal septotomy and myotomy (D-POEM). Methods Seven consecutive patients were referred for symptomatic non-zenker's esophageal diverticulum. The steps of the procedure were as follows: (i) analysis of the esophageal anatomy; (ii) vertical mucosal incision just above the upper edge of the diverticulum; (iii) submucosal tunneling by submucosal dissection, alongside the submucosal window of the diverticulum and the downstream septum; (iv) identification of the septum and the diverticular area; (v) diverticular septotomy followed by antegrade esocardial myotomy up to 2 cm below the cardia; and (vi) closure of the mucosal incision. Results Three men and four women aged from 62 to 90 years were treated. Four patients had a diet with adapted texture before the treatment and five patients had weight loss (4 kg to 24 kg). At preoperative evaluation, all had an esophageal motility disorder at high-resolution manometry. The procedures were successfully performed in all the patients without per-operative complications. During the 30 postoperative days, no significant adverse events occurred. Three months after treatment, six patients (85%) had clinical improvement with complete or partial regression of dysphagia. All the patients stabilized or gained weight after the treatment. Conclusion The D-POEM technique is a mini-invasive effective and safe technique to treat symptoms due to both esophageal motility disorder and distal esophageal diverticula. It could be a very interesting solution for non-surgical patients in the first time that could be extended to other patients after favorable larger series.