Kasturba Medical College and Hospital doctors perform Paoral Endoscopic Myotomy

Manipal, March 23, 2021: Doctors of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal successfully performed third space endoscopy, incision-less treatment for achalasia cardia – POEM for the first time in this part of Karnataka.

A 65-year-old person suffering had difficulty in swallowing food and regurgitation since 2016. He had difficulty in sleeping and was diagnosed to have achalasia cardia during a special test called Manometry at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital.
He was initially treated with balloon dilatation but had only partial improvement.
“He was offered surgery but he was not willing for surgical treatment. So we considered the latest incision-less treatment by endoscopy called POEM – Paroral Endoscopic Myotomy,” Dr. Shiran Shetty, Professor, and Head, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology said.

Achalasia cardia is a motility disorder involving the esophagus, where the person suffers from symptoms including difficulty in swallowing food including liquids, associated with regurgitation of ingested food.

The modalities of therapy include endoscopic dilatation which offers temporary relief of symptoms, while surgery of myotomy offers a cure. Advancements in the field of Gastroenterology especially related to the field of third space endoscopy lead to an endoscopic cure of Achalasia with a procedure called POEM i.e, Paroral Endoscopic Myotomy.

POEM is akin to surgical myotomy offering a one-time cure for the disease. The procedure lasts 30-45 minutes, is incision-less, and offers instantaneous relief from symptoms. Resumption of oral diet was done within a day and the patient was discharged the following day with no Medications.

During the Endoscopic workshop held in the Department of Medical Gastroenterology on Feb 27 this year, the POEM procedure was performed under the guidance of Dr. Mohan Ramchandani, Consultant Gastroenterologist from AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad.

POEM was performed in this part of Karnataka for the first time. After 2 weeks the patient can eat and have relief of symptoms. Currently, the patient is doing well with regular follow-up. Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent Kasturba Hospital, Manipal congratulated the team for successfully conducted the advanced procedure.