Published online Jun 6, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i11.2116
Peer-review started: January 6, 2020
First decision: February 26, 2020
Revised: March 27, 2020
Accepted: April 28, 2020
Article in press: April 28, 2020
Published online: June 6, 2020
Processing time: 152 Days and 14 Hours
Achalasia is a type of esophageal motility disorder, consisting of relaxation dysfunction of the lower esophagus and disturbed esophageal peristalsis. Related clinical symptoms include dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, and weight loss. Traditional treatment options include endoscopic botulinum toxin injection, endoscopic pneumatic dilation, and laparoscopic Heller’s myotomy. These therapies mainly relieve symptoms by reducing the pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter and reducing blood flow resistance at the esophagogastric junction. Based on endoscopic submucosal dissection and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a purely endoscopic method of myotomy with minimal invasiveness and a low rate of adverse events when performed by experienced operators. Since then, numerous studies have shown the significant clinical efficacy and safety of POEM. The purpose of this article is to introduce different modified POEMs, special indications for different POEMs, and their advantages as well as disadvantages.
Core tip: There are several articles in the literature introducing some specific peroral endoscopic myotomies (POEM). However, this is the first minireview to report most of the modified POEM and to compare the advantages and disadvantages of them as well as their special indications. In addition, this article not only focuses on the application of POEM in achalasia, but also includes the treatment of esophageal diverticulum, gastroparesis, and pyloric stenosis.