Peroral endoscopic myotomy for achalasia: a prospective multicenter study in Japan

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an available treatment modalities for achalasia. The reported efficacy of POEM in the only prospective multicenter study was 82%; however, a retrospective multicenter study in Japan reported a higher efficacy rate of 95%. The aim of this study was to prospectively verify treatment outcomes after POEM at multiple facilities in Japan.

This was a prospective single-arm trial of POEM for achalasia at 8 facilities in Japan between April 2016 and March 2018 to evaluate its safety and efficacy. Patients were re-evaluated at 3 months and up to 1 year after POEM.

Among the 233 patients with achalasia who underwent POEM, procedure-related adverse events occurred in 24 patients (10.3%), none of whom required surgical intervention. In the 207 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria, the efficacy rate of POEM, defined by an Eckardt score ≤3 at 1 year, was 97.4% (95% CI, 95.3%-99.7%). The Eckardt score decreased significantly from 6.6 ± 2.0 preoperatively to 1.1 ± 1.1, 1 year after POEM. Postoperative reflux esophagitis, severe reflux esophagitis, and symptomatic GERD were reported in 54.2%, 5.6%, and 14.7%, respectively, and proton pump inhibitors were administered in 21.1%.

Our prospective multicenter study in Japan showed greater efficacy of POEM for achalasia compared with the results of a previous prospective multicenter study. POEM is safe and highly effective for at least 1 year. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN 000021550.).