ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the managements of complications during and after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for esophageal achalasia (EA).MethodsData of 119 EA patients who underwent POEM from October 2010 to July 2011 were collected.Complications during and after POEM and during follow-up were analyzed.Results Complications during operation included bleeding in 19 patients ( 16.0％ ),mucosa rupture in 9 (7.6％),mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema in 27 (22.7％ ) and pneumothorax in 3 (2.5％ ).Complications occurred at the night of procedure included pain in 43 (36.1％ ) patients and pneumothorax in 7 ( 5.9％ ).Postoperative complications included asymptomatic pneumothorax in 23 patients (19.3％),delayed hemorrhage in 1(0.8％),pleural effusion in 58 (48.7％ ),minor pulmonary inflammation or segmental atelectasis in 59 (49.6％),emphysema of mediasti-na and subcutaneous tissue in 76 (63.9％ ),and gas under diaphragm or aeroperitoneum in 47 (39.5％ ).Complications during follow-up included one case of dysphagia caused by stricture of mucosa and one case of dehiscence at the tunnel entry with food retention.No POEM-correlated death occurred.All the complications were cured by conservative treatments.No additional surgery was needed.ConclusionMain complications as emphysema of mediastina and subcutaneous tissue,pneumothorax,aeroperitoneum and bleeding during and after POEM can be treated timely and effectively with conservative treatment.