POEM is used to treat a disorder of the esophagus called achalasia. Achalasia makes it difficult to swallow. When you eat, food goes from your mouth into the esophagus and muscles move food down to the stomach. If you have achalasia, your esophagus muscles don’t work properly so food can’t pass into the stomach. The food stays in the esophagus and slowly empties into the stomach, which can cause weight loss, chest pain or regurgitation. Your physician will insert a thin, flexible tube with camera attached, through your mouth into the esophagus. The endoscope will reach the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle where a small cut will be made to loosen the muscle so food can empty into the stomach. POEM can also treat distal esophageal spasm (DES), esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, hypertensive esophageal peristalsis and hypercontractible esophagus.
What are the symptoms of achalasia?
Symptoms can include coughing, vomiting, weight loss, trouble swallowing and chest pain.
References
Cleveland Clinic. POEM. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/digestive/depts/poem
University of Michigan Health. POEM. https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/digestive-and-liver-health/peroral-endoscopic-myotomy
