Achalasia in a Nonagenarian Presenting with Recurring Aspiration Pneumonia

Evaluating the Non-conventional Achalasia Treatment Modalities

Introduction

Achalasia is a primary esophageal dysmotility disorder. Despite the high volume of studies addressing the conventional treatments for achalasia, few are debated regarding the non-conventional treatments, such as cardiectomy, cardioplasty, endoluminal substances injection (ethanolamine oleate, polidocanol, botulinum toxin), stents, and certain drugs (beta-agonists, anticholinergic, nitrates, calcium channel blockers, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors).

Methods

A critical review was performed.

Results

Endoscopic, surgical, and pharmacological treatments were included. A qualitative synthesis was presented.

Conclusion

Non-conventional therapeutic options for treating achalasia encompass medical, endoscopic, and surgical procedures. Clinicians and patients need to know all the tools for the management of achalasia. However, several currently available studies of non-conventional treatments lack high-quality evidence, and future randomized trials are still needed.

Efficacy and Safety of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Esophageal Achalasia and Achalasia-Related Diseases in Patients Aged 75 Years and Over

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become a popular treatment for esophageal achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders. However, its efficacy and safety in elderly patients are unclear. To clarify that, we reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent POEM in our hospital. A total of 11 patients who underwent POEM for esophageal achalasia (n = 10) and jackhammer esophagus (n = 1) were included. Procedural success, defined as the completion of an esophageal and gastric myotomy, was 100%. Clinical success, defined as an Eckardt score of 3 or less, without the use of additional treatments at 2 months, was 100%. The median Eckardt score significantly decreased after the POEM (baseline vs. 2 months after POEM; 7 (2–8) vs. 0 (0–1), p < 0.01). In the second and third years, the cumulative treatment effect maintenance rate was 88.9%. All patients taking antithrombotic agents had safe operations with the temporary discontinuation of these agents. There were four adverse events (two pneumoperitoneum, one mucosal injury, and one pneumonia), all of which improved with fasting or antibiotics. In conclusion, POEM is an effective and safe treatment for esophageal achalasia and achalasia-related diseases in patients aged 75 years and over.

Incidence, morbidity and mortality of patients with achalasia in England: findings from a study of nationwide hospital and primary care data

BACKGROUND

Achalasia is an uncommon condition characterised by failed lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation. Data regarding its incidence, prevalence, disease associations and long-term outcomes are very limited.

METHODS

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) include demographic and diagnostic data for all English hospital attendances. The Health Improvement Network (THIN) includes the primary care records of 4.5 million UK subjects, representative of national demographics. Both were searched for incident cases between 2006 and 2016 and THIN for prevalent cases. Subjects with achalasia in THIN were compared with age, sex, deprivation tand smoking status matched controls for important comorbidities and mortality.

RESULTS

There were 10 509 and 711 new achalasia diagnoses identified in HES and THIN, respectively. The mean incidence per 100 000 people in HES was 1.99 (95% CI 1.87 to 2.11) and 1.53 (1.42 to 1.64) per 100 000 person-years in THIN. The prevalence in THIN was 27.1 (25.4 to 28.9) per 100 000 population. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were significantly higher in subjects with achalasia (n=2369) compared with controls (n=3865) for: oesophageal cancer (IRR 5.22 (95% CI: 1.88 to 14.45), p<0.001), aspiration pneumonia (13.38 (1.66 to 107.79), p=0.015), lower respiratory tract infection (1.33 (1.05 to 1.70), p=0.02) and mortality (1.33 (1.17 to 1.51), p<0.001). The median time from achalasia diagnosis to oesophageal cancer diagnosis was 15.5 (IQR 20.4) years.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of achalasia is 1.99 per 100 000 population in secondary care data and 1.53 per 100 000 person-years in primary care data. Subjects with achalasia have an increased incidence of oesophageal cancer, aspiration pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infections and higher mortality. Clinicians treating patients with achalasia should be made aware of these associated morbidities and its increased mortality.

Anesthesia for peroral endoscopic myotomy in Japan

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) was developed in Japan as a less invasive treatment for esophageal achalasia requiring general anesthesia under positive pressure ventilation. In 2018, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society published the first guidelines describing the standard care for POEM. Based on these guidelines, we discuss the typical approach to anesthesia during POEM for the management of esophageal achalasia in Japan.

RECENT FINDINGS

Prior cleansing of the esophagus is essential to prevent both aspiration during induction of anesthesia and contamination of the mediastinum and thoracic/abdominal cavity by esophageal remnants after endoscopic resection of the esophageal mucosa. Although rare, adverse events related to intraoperative carbon dioxide insufflation occur. These are treated through percutaneous needle decompression and insertion of a chest drainage tube for pneumoperitoneum and pneumothorax, respectively. Caution should be exercised regarding the development of subcutaneous emphysema and its involvement in airway obstruction.

SUMMARY

Prevention of aspiration pneumonia and adverse events related to the insufflation of carbon dioxide is essential in the management of esophageal achalasia through POEM. Close cooperation between gastrointestinal endoscopic surgeons and anesthesiologists is indispensable in POEM.