What Is Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy and How Can It Help You?

If you’re experiencing frequent choking or swallowing issues, you may have achalasia, a condition where your lower esophageal muscles don’t relax. This health condition can result in issues like weight loss, heartburn, and food regurgitation. POEM is a minimally invasive treatment option for those with achalasia and can improve your quality of life.

What is POEM?

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a procedure that helps treat esophageal motility disorders (EMDs), where an endoscope is inserted through the mouth to cut the spasms. It is a non-invasive alternative to surgical options like Heller myotomy, which loosens the tightened muscles using small cuts. Studies have shown that around 90% of cases of achalasia patients found relief and had a faster recovery period with POEM. 

Achalasia can lead to serious health complications, like aspiration pneumonia, where food can enter the lungs, causing inflammation in the airways, esophageal cancer, etc. With timely attention and treatment, your physician can intervene with immediate symptoms and stop the progression of your condition. With an appropriate diagnosis, and prompt course of treatment, it could potentially halt a more complex surgery like esophagectomy (removal of the esophagus).

The Benefits of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy

When you are diagnosed with achalasia, you might suffer from chronic regurgitation. Undergoing POEM in case of such gastroenteric problems can help you get back to a healthier shape efficiently. Here are some of the benefits of should know about the procedure.

Reduced Pain

As they need no incisions, they are generally painless compared to traditional surgical procedures. This also allows you to have a smoother recovery period and a more natural healing process with less medication. This non-invasive procedure leaves no scars, eliminating the need for future scar revision procedures as a follow-up.

Improved Diet

You might be avoiding several food items when you’re suffering from achalasia. The procedure helps restore the passageway between the mouth and the stomach, letting you enjoy a wider diet. As this also allows you to improve the overall nutrition status of your body, you can get back to your regular activities without fear, relapse, or discomfort.

A modified diet with liquids and soft foods helps reduce common post-procedural symptoms like chest discomfort, bloating, and acid reflux.

Versatile Treatment

Although this specific model of treatment is generally used for achalasia, research states that it shows promise for other EMDs. This includes distal esophageal spasm (DES), jackhammer esophagus (hypercontractible esophagus), and nutcracker esophagus (hypertensive esophageal peristalsis).

Your gastroenterologist can also suggest a customized POEM procedure based on your specific case. 

Reduced Medication Dependency

When you opt for an achalasia treatment, you may have to rely on medications for calcium channel blockers, nitrates, or proton pump inhibitors (PPI). While they are effective for short-term pain relief, POEM targets the causative issue, reducing the need for heavy medication.

Being less reliant on medications not only brings down your financial burden but also the risks of side effects.

Our gastroenterologists at California Digestive Disease Center conduct POEM and other procedures for all types of digestive conditions. Schedule your consultation today!