POEM is a mature procedure endorsed by societal guidelines as a first line therapy for achalasia and spastic esophageal disorders. Nonetheless, several questions remain, including expanding indications for POEM, periprocedural evaluation and management, and the optimal POEM technique to enhance clinical success while mitigating risk for reflux.

There is uncertainty regarding several technical aspects of the POEM myotomy; though aggregating evidence supports the use of real-time impedance planimetry to guide the myotomy. While post-POEM reflux remains a concerning long term sequela, there is an increasing focus on the potential role of endoscopic anti-reflux interventions. Lastly, with the widespread adoption of POEM, we continue to witness ongoing efforts to standardize post-procedural care and training in this procedure. POEM is no longer a novel but rather established procedure. Yet, this technique has continued to evolve, with the aim of optimizing treatment success while reducing adverse events and risk for post-procedural reflux.

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder characterized by abnormal esophageal peristalsis and the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, resulting in poor esophageal emptying. This can be relieved by endoscopic and surgical treatments; each comes with certain advantages and disadvantages.

This review aims to guide the clinician in clinical decision making on the different treatment options for achalasia regarding the efficacy, safety, and important predictors.

Botulinum toxin injection is only recommended for a selective group of achalasia patients because of the short term effect. Pneumatic dilation improves achalasia symptoms, but this effect diminishes over time and requiring repeated dilations to maintain clinical effect. Heller myotomy combined with fundoplication and peroral endoscopic myotomy are highly effective on the long term but are more invasive than dilations. Gastro-esophageal reflux complaints are more often encountered after peroral endoscopic myotomy. Patient factors such as age, comorbidities, and type of achalasia must be taken into account when choosing a treatment. The preference of the patient is also of great importance and therefore shared decision making has to play a fundamental role in deciding about treatment.

Pleural fistula is an abnormal communication between the pleural cavity and an adjacent structure. The interplay of anatomic and physiologic factors including proximity to various intrathoracic structures, deep pleural recesses, and negative pleural pressures makes the pleura an easy victim of fistulization. Iatrogenic creation followed by necrotizing infections and malignancies are the most common causes. While the overall incidence and size of postsurgical pleural fistulas are decreasing with increased adoption of vascularized flaps for high-risk resections, the smaller fistulas that develop in the setting of post-radiation therapy changes, with necrotizing infections in immunosuppressed patients, and with use of newer antiangiogenic chemotherapies can be challenging to visualize directly. Imaging signs in clinical practice are often subtle and indirect. Multimodality imaging and biochemical pleural fluid analysis can offer important adjunctive information when a diagnosis is only suggested with the first imaging study. Certain pleural fistulas are inconsequential, some spontaneously close with or without diversion of flow or use of positive-pressure ventilation, while others carry a higher risk of complications or recurrence. Estimated fistula size, factors that impair healing, and the possibility of diversion are important considerations when deciding between endoscopic or surgical closure. The authors have tailored this article for a general imager or clinical practitioner and review 10 types of pleural fistulas, ranging from routine to rare, with regard to their etiology, pathophysiology, clinical cues, imaging features, nuances of pleural fluid analysis, and management options available today. ^©RSNA, 2022.