G-POEM in Belgium : a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Endoscopy

Background:

• Gastroparesis is a chronic gastrointestinal motility disorder with increasing prevalence.
• Current treatment options for gastroparesis are limited and often ineffective.
• Gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (GPOEM) has emerged as a potentially superior therapeutic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of GPOEM in patients with gastroparesis.
• To assess the impact of GPOEM on patient-reported symptoms and quality of life.
• To identify predictors of treatment success and potential complications.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 34 patients who underwent GPOEM for gastroparesis.
• Assessment of symptom severity and quality of life using standardized questionnaires before and after the procedure in 23 patients.
• Evaluation of clinical success rates and complication profiles.

Main Results:

• An average clinical success rate of 73.92% was achieved.
• The procedure demonstrated an excellent safety profile with only two minor complications.
• Successful GPOEM significantly improved patients' quality of life and reduced proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use in those with reflux.

Conclusions:

• GPOEM is an effective and safe treatment option for select gastroparesis patients, leading to significant symptom improvement and enhanced quality of life.
• Patients who do not respond to GPOEM may be at higher risk for somatization, suggesting the utility of pre-intervention screening.
• Further research should focus on identifying optimal patient selection criteria and exploring the long-term outcomes of GPOEM.