Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for the Treatment of Achalasia, Database Repository

Achalasia is a disease of the muscle of the esophagus (food tube) & means "a failure to
relax." The esophagus consists of 3 parts: the first part (uppermost part) is the upper
esophageal sphincter (UES). The UES is a specialized ring of muscle which separates the
esophagus from the throat, & prevents food in the second part (body) of the esophagus from
regurgitating into the throat. The third part of the esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter
[LES]) also consists of a specialized ring of muscle which separates the body of the
esophagus from the stomach, & prevents food & acid from regurgitating into the body of the
esophagus. When achalasia is present, patients experience dysphasia (difficulty swallowing
food, & [sometimes] liquids), chest pain & can experience recurrent pneumonia & loss of
weight.

Current treatments for achalasia include oral medications (calcium channel blockers) to relax
the LES (difficult to swallow pill/capsule), dilation (stretching) of the LES, (temporary
relief) & Esophagomyotomy (general surgery to cut the LES).

POEM (Per-Oral endoscopic myotomy (creating a muscle [esophagus] opening), an incision-less
(no cutting of the surface of the body) endoscopic procedure, is an effective non-surgical
alternative to release the muscle & sphincter of the LES for the treatment of achalasia.

Inclusion Criteria:

18 years of age Referral for the treatment of Achalasia

Exclusion Criteria:

Less than 18 years of age; Absence of Achalasia