ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the difference between modified peroral endoscopic myotomy (Liu?POEM) and conventional POEM for achalasia. Methods Thirty achalasia patients treated with Liu?POEM and 30 with conventional POEM were enrolled. A retrospective study was performed to compare the conventional POEM and Liu?POEM procedures by evaluating total operation time, postoperative complications and symptoms( Eckardt score) . Results The average total operation time of Liu?POEM was 27?13 ±11?42 min and the average myotomy time was 13?20±5?09 min. There was no pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema or fever. The average total operation time of conventional POEM was 51?22 ± 25?63 min. The average myotomy time was 11?18±7?61 min. There were three cases(10%) of subcutaneous emphysema but recovered after two days without any special treatment. One patient who underwent conventional POEM had fever( the highest temperature was 37?6℃) and his temperature subsided to normal after physical cooling in one day. Postoperative Eckardt scores of patients were all less than 3. After postoperative follow?up of 3 to 12 months, no complications occurred in any patient. Conclusion Liu?POEM is a modified approach to treat achalasia, advantageous over conventional POEM in more simplified operation procedure, shorter operation time and less invasiveness.