Effectiveness of peroral endoscopic myotomy in the treatment of achalasia: A pilot trial in Chinese Han population with a minimum of one-year follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes of Chinese Han patients who underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia. METHODS: Patients undergoing POEM for achalasia at the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School were prospectively enrolled in this study, with a follow-up duration of at least one year. Their outcomes were evaluated by analyzing esophageal manometry, timed barium esophagogram and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), which were performed before surgery, 5 days after surgery and at the last follow-up. Patients' symptom relief was considered the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, esophageal emptying, patients' quality of life (QoL) and procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were included in the study. Eckardt score after POEM was remarkably lower than the preoperative score (0.4 +/- 0.7 vs 7.1 +/- 2.1, P = 0.001). The preoperative LES pressure was 32.4 +/- 15.3 mmHg, which was decreased to 3.8 +/- 3.9 mmHg immediately after surgery. The height of the barium column at 1 min after barium swallow was significantly reduced after treatment (11.7 +/- 1.2 cm vs 3.2 +/- 1.6 cm, P < 0.001). The patients' QoL was also improved, as indicated by obviously increased physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores of the SF-36. Complications occurred during POEM included cutaneous emphysema, mucosal injury and pneumothorax. CONCLUSION: POEM is an effective approach for treating achalasia, which can relieve the symptoms of achalasia by improving esophageal emptying and lowering LES pressure.