Per-oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM): A safe and effective treatment for achalasia in geriatric patients

Esophageal achalasia is a primary motor disorder of the esophagus characterized by impair relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and absent of esophageal peristalsis. Per-oral endoscopic myotomy is an alternative treatment to surgical Heller myotomy in patients over 65 years old. The aim of this paper was to describe the results of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) or the treatment of achalasia in geriatric patients.

We included patients over 65 years old with POEM, from retrospective cohort review, in which POEM was performed with a standardized technique in our department.

12 patients were included, the procedure was successful in 98% of patients, minor adverse events occurred without mortality.

POEM is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of achalasia, the results of the study are similar to those reported in the literature.