Per-Oral Plication of (Neo)Esophagus: Technical Feasibility and Early Outcomes

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is an example of endoscopic sutured plications being used to remodel a gastrointestinal organ. With per-oral plication of the esophagus (POPE), similar plications are used to remodel the dilated and redundant megaesophagus of end-stage achalasia. Redundancies and dilations can also develop in the neoesophagus of a patient with prior esophagectomy. Megaesophagus and a redundant neoesophagus can both lead to debilitating dysphagia, regurgitation, and recurrent aspiration pneumonia. Traditionally, this anatomic problem requires complex revisional or excisional surgery, to which POPE offers an incisionless alternative.

This is a dynamic manuscript with video demonstration of POPE, as well as review of five cases performed in 1 year. Data were collected in a prospectively maintained database, and the institutional review board approved retrospective review for this publication. The procedure is performed using a dual-channel upper endoscope fixed with an endoscopic suturing device, with the patient supine under general anesthesia.

POPE was technically completed in all cases with no serious complications, and patients either went home the same day or spent one night for observation. Most patients reported immediate and substantial symptomatic improvement. Objective pre- and post-measures include esophagram and nuclear gastric emptying studies.

This article discusses early experience at one institution with POPE, with detailed description of the procedure and technical considerations. An accompanying video reviews two cases, one with megaesophagus and one with a gastric conduit. While this novel procedure has limited and rare indications, it offers a low-morbidity solution to a challenging anatomic problem that traditionally requires invasive surgery.