G-POEM with antro-pyloromyotomy for the treatment of refractory gastroparesis: mid-term follow-up and factors predicting outcome

BACKGROUND

Gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) was introduced for treating refractory gastroparesis.

AIM

To present a series of patients focussed on clinical mid-term efficacy and predictive outcomes factors.

METHODS

This was a single centre study of 29 patients operated on between January 2014 and April 2016, with disturbed gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) and/or elevated Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptoms Index (GCSI). The procedures were performed as previously described. The primary endpoint was the efficacy at 3 and 6 months, based on GCSI and symptoms. The secondary endpoints were GES evolution, procedure reproducibility and safety, and identification of predictive factors for success.

RESULTS

There were 10 men, 19 women (mean age 52.8±18). The technical success rate was 100% (average 47 minutes). There were two complications managed conservatively: one bleeding and one abscess. The median follow-up was 10±6.4 months. The clinical success rate was 79% at 3 months, 69% at 6 months, with a significant decrease in the mean GCSI compared to pre-operatively (3.3±0.9 vs 1±1.2 and 1.1±0.9 respectively). The GES (n=23) normalised in 70% of cases, with a significant improvement of the mean half emptying time and retention at 2 hours, and a discordance in 21% of the cases. In univariate analysis, diabetes and female gender were significantly associated with risk of failure, but not confirmed in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The mid-term efficacy of G-POEM reaches 70% at 6 months. The procedure remains reproducible and safe. Diabetes and female gender were predictive of failure.