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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 21, 2014; 20(47): 17746-17755
Published online Dec 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17746
Per-oral endoscopic myotomy: Major advance in achalasia treatment and in endoscopic surgery
David Friedel, Rani Modayil, Stavros N Stavropoulos
David Friedel, Rani Modayil, Stavros N Stavropoulos, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501, United States
Author contributions: Friedel D contributed to the manuscript preparation; Modayil R contributed to the manuscript, tables and figures preparation; Stavropoulos SN contributed to the manuscript preparation, informational source and final approval of version published.
Correspondence to: Stavros N Stavropoulos, MD, Director of Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Winthrop University Hospital, 222 Station Plaza North Suite 429, Mineola, NY 11501, United States. sstavropoulos@winthrop.org
Telephone: +1-516-6634623 Fax: +1-516-6634617
Received: June 13, 2014
Revised: July 20, 2014
Accepted: November 30, 2014
Published online: December 21, 2014
Processing time: 190 Days and 14.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a novel endosurgical therapy for achalasia. POEM developed as an offshoot of early natural orifice endoscopic surgery (NOTES) approach investigation, but, now, is arguably the most successful clinical application of NOTES. The clinical results of POEM therapy in terms of dysphagia relief and safety have been excellent. The impact of POEM is extending far beyond the narrow domain of esophageal motility disorders. As the first successful clinical application of submucosal endoscopy it is now spawning many other NOTES interventions utilizing a submucosal tunnel approach including submucosal tunnel endoscopic resection of submucosal and mucosal lesions and per oral pyloromyotomy for gastroparesis.