Patterns of esophageal acid exposure after laparoscopic Heller's myotomy and Dor's fundoplication for esophageal achalasia

Valuing innovative endoscopic techniques: per-oral endoscopic myotomy for the management of achalasia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Unclear reimbursement for new and innovative endoscopic procedures can limit adoption in clinical practice despite effectiveness in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to determine maximum cost-effective reimbursement for per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in treating achalasia.

METHODS

We constructed a decision-analytic model assessing POEM versus laparoscopic Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication (LHM) in managing achalasia from a payer perspective over a 1-year time horizon. Reimbursement data were derived from 2017 Medicare data. Responder rates were based on clinically meaningful improvement in validated Eckardt scores. Validated health utility values were assigned to terminal health states based on data previously derived with a standard gamble technique. Contemporary willingness-to-pay (WTP) levels per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) were used to estimate maximum reimbursement for POEM using threshold analysis.

RESULTS

Effectiveness of POEM and LHM was similar at 1 year of follow-up (0.91 QALY). Maximum cost-effective reimbursement for POEM was $8033.37 to $8223.14, including all professional and facility fees. This compares favorably with contemporary total reimbursement of 10 to 15 total relative value units for advanced endoscopic procedures. Rates of postprocedural GERD did not affect the preference for POEM compared with LHM, assuming at least 10% cost savings with POEM compared with LHM in cost-minimization analysis, or at least 44% cost savings in cost-effectiveness analysis (WTP = $100,000/QALY). LHM was only preferred over POEM if both procedures were reimbursed similarly, and these findings were primarily driven by lower rates of postprocedural GERD. The rate of conversion to open laparotomy due to perforation or bleeding was infrequent in published clinical practice experience, thus did not significantly affect reimbursement.

DISCUSSION

POEM is an example of an innovative and potentially disruptive endoscopic technique offering greater cost-effective value and similar outcomes to the established surgical standard at contemporary reimbursement levels.

Recent progress in treatment of achalasia

Achalasia is a rare primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, absent or decreased esophageal peristaltic waves and synchronous contractions. As the exact pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear, treatment options focus on the alleviation of the functional obstruction caused by lower esophageal sphincter and prevention of gastroesophageal reflux disease at the same time. Treatment modalities include pharmacological therapy, interventional therapy, surgical treatment and spinal rotation massage. This article reviews the latest progress in treatment of achalasia, with particular emphasis on the evolution of main treatments which include endoscopic pneumatic dilation, Heller myotomy and per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

Current approach to the treatment of achalasia

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by aperistalsis and incomplete or absent relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The cause of the disease remains elusive and there is no intervention that improves the esophageal body function. Currently, treatment options focus on palliation of symptoms by reducing the LES pressure. The most effective and well-tolerated treatments continue to be the laparoscopic Heller myotomy and endoscopic pneumatic dilation; however, newer techniques (eg, peroral endoscopic myotomy and self-expanding metal stents) show promise. Botulinum toxin and pharmacologic therapy are reserved for those who are unable to undergo more effective therapies. Treatment options should be tailored to the patient, using current predictors of outcome such as the patient's age and post-treatment LES pressures. The aim of this article is to highlight current literature and provide an up-to-date approach to the treatment of achalasia.

Laparoscopic calibrated total vs partial fundoplication following Heller myotomy for oesophageal achalasia

AIM: To compare the mid-term outcomes of laparoscopic calibrated Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication with Dor fundoplication performed after Heller myotomy for oesophageal achalasia.

METHODS: Fifty-six patients (26 men, 30 women; mean age 42.8 ± 14.7 years) presenting for minimally invasive surgery for oesophageal achalasia, were enrolled. All patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy followed by a 180° anterior partial fundoplication in 30 cases (group 1) and calibrated Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication in 26 (group 2). Intraoperative endoscopy and manometry were used to calibrate the myotomy and fundoplication. A 6-mo follow-up period with symptomatic evaluation and barium swallow was undertaken. One and two years after surgery, the patients underwent symptom questionnaires, endoscopy, oesophageal manometry and 24 h oesophago-gastric pH monitoring.

RESULTS: At the 2-year follow-up, no significant difference in the median symptom score was observed between the 2 groups (P = 0.66; Mann-Whitney U-test). The median percentage time with oesophageal pH < 4 was significantly higher in the Dor group compared to the Nissen-Rossetti group (2; range 0.8-10 vs 0.35; range 0-2) (P < 0.0001; Mann-Whitney U-test).

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic Dor and calibrated Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication achieved similar results in the resolution of dysphagia. Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication seems to be more effective in suppressing oesophageal acid exposure.

Laparoscopic Dor versus Toupet fundoplication following Heller myotomy for achalasia: results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The type of fundoplication that should be performed in conjunction with Heller myotomy for esophageal achalasia is controversial. We prospectively compared anterior fundoplication (Dor) with partial posterior fundoplication (Toupet) in patients undergoing laparoscopic Heller myotomy.

METHODS

A multicenter, prospective, randomized-controlled trial was initiated to compare Dor versus Toupet fundoplication after laparoscopic Heller myotomy. Outcome measures were symptomatic GERD scores (0-4, five-point Likert scale questionnaire) and 24-h pH testing at 6-12 months after surgery. Data are mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was by Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and Freidman's test.

RESULTS

Sixty of 85 originally enrolled and randomized patients who underwent 36 Dor and 24 Toupet fundoplications had follow-up data per protocol for analysis. Dor and Toupet groups were similar in age (46.8 vs. 51.7 years) and gender (52.8 vs. 62.5% male). pH studies at 6-12 months in 43 patients (72%: Dor n = 24 and Toupet n = 19) showed total DeMeester scores and % time pH < 4 were not significant between the two groups. Abnormal acid reflux was present in 10 of 24 Dor group patients (41.7%) and in 4 of 19 Toupet patients (21.0%) (p = 0.152). Dysphagia and regurgitation symptom scores improved significantly in both groups compared to preoperative scores. No significant differences in any esophageal symptoms were noted between the two groups preoperatively or at follow-up. SF-36 quality-of-life measures changed significantly from pre- to postoperative for five of ten domains in the Dor group and seven of ten in the Toupet patients (not significant between groups).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy provides significant improvement in dysphagia and regurgitation symptoms in achalasia patients regardless of the type of partial fundoplication. Although a higher percentage of patients in the Dor group had abnormal 24-h pH test results compared to those of patients who underwent Toupet, the differences were not statistically significant.

Surgical treatment for achalasia: when should it be performed, and for which patients?

Achalasia is a rare motor disorder of the esophagus, characterized by the absence of peristalsis and impaired swallow-induced relaxation. In the past decade, evidence has been accumulated suggesting that achalasia may be an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder. With the advent of minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) has slowly shifted the treatment of achalasia toward the greater use of surgical therapy. The goal of both surgical and nonsurgical treatment is to eliminate the outflow obstruction afforded by a nonrelaxing sphincter, relieving dysphagia and maintaining a barrier against gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Endoscopic botulinum toxin injection (EBTI) is safe, easy to perform, inexpensive, and effective in aged patients, and it is especially effective when the lower esophageal pressure is hypertonic. This therapeutic option is reserved for patients too ill to undergo any surgical procedure. Pneumatic dilation (PD) has been shown to be an effective and inexpensive treatment with few adverse effects. The long-term success rate of PD seems to drop progressively over time. Heller myotomy (HM) has shown the best clinical efficacy in achalasia as a first-line treatment. Multiple endoscopic treatments are associated with poorer outcomes after HM. EBTI also makes LHM more difficult and results in a worse surgical outcome. The inferior symptomatic outcomes after thoracoscopic HM may be caused by the difficulty in extending an adequate myotomy onto the stomach from the chest and the inability to create a fundoplication. LHM with Dor's fundoplication (LHM + Dor) is effective and is safer procedure for avoiding GER, dysphagia, mucosal perforation, and a pseudodiverticulum. LHM + Dor is also effective in the presence of sigmoid achalasia, but the clinical result is not as good as nonsigmoid achalasia. A few patients need esophagectomy for surgical failure of HM. However, considering the risk of esophagectomy, LHM + Dor is the first treatment option for patients with achalasia regardless of the degree of esophageal dilatation. This procedure is therefore considered to be an effective and safe treatment for patients of any age or with any condition.

Simple suture or prosthesis hiatal closure in laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia: a retrospective cohort study

Laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia (PEH) involves removal of the hernia sac, cruroplasty, and fundoplication. Mesh application to cruroplasty seems to reduce hernia recurrence rate, but may be associated with dysphagia. The aim of the study was to review the clinical and laboratory outcomes of a series of patients with PEH after laparoscopic repair. Patients with PEH, who had laparoscopic repair and 1-year postoperative follow-up, were included in the study. Pre- and postoperative testing included symptom questionnaires, barium esophagogram, pH-monitoring, barium swallow testing. In the first half cases, suturing of large hernia gaps was reinforced with prosthesis (PR), whereas in the second half only suture cruroplasty (SC) was performed. Sixty-eight patients (36 male) with PEH were included in the study. There were no conversions to open. Postoperatively, dysphagia grading was significantly correlated to esophageal transit time (P < 0.001). There were seven recurrences; one paraesophageal and six wrap migrations. Also, four cases with stenosis were identified all in the PR group. Dysphagia was more common (P= 0.05) and esophageal transit more delayed (P= 0.034) after PR than after SC. Two revisions, one for esophageal stenosis and one for recurrent PEH, derived from the SC group. Reflux was more common after Toupet fundoplication than after Nissen fundoplication (NF) (P= 0.031) in patients with impaired esophageal motility. Laparoscopic repair of PEH with SC is associated with satisfactory clinical outcomes and low rate of wrap migration, at least similar to PR hiatal repair. NF is effective as an antireflux procedure in all cases.

Achalasia

Achalasia is the best understood and most readily treatable esophageal motility disorder. It serves as a prototype for disorders of the enteric nervous system with degeneration of the myenteric neurons that innervate the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and esophageal body. Investigations into the pathogenesis have highlighted the importance of nitric oxide and the possible role of an autoimmune response to a viral insult in genetically susceptible individuals. Advances in diagnostic testing have delineated manometric variants of achalasia that have implications for management. Treatment studies have demonstrated the limited efficacy of botulinum toxin as well as less than ideal, long-term effectiveness of both pneumatic dilation and Heller myotomy. This article incorporates these recent developments into the current understanding of achalasia.