Perspective on Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Achalasia: Zhongshan Experience

Worldwide, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has achieved remarkable initial outcomes in the treatment of achalasia. In China, POEM has developed very quickly since the first case was performed in our center in August 2010. With experience, we have successfully performed POEM for special cases (such as pediatric patients, patients with sigmoid-type esophagus, and patients with recurrent symptoms after previous surgery) and have altered our technique to achieve long-term symptom remission and simplify the POEM procedure. These changes include posterior wall incision, full-thickness myotomy, a “push-and-pull” technique for myotomy, and water-jet assisted POEM. In this article, our experiences in POEM are summarized, including changes in technique, applications of the procedure, and the management of possible complications.