Abstract
BACKGROUND: Achalasia is an esophagus lesion which is characterized by disorders of its motility. It is met extremely rare in childhood. Among the existing techniques of achalasia management, Heller's laparoscopic myotomy is a procedure of choice. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an endoscopic method for AP treating proposed by P. Pasricha in 2007.
AIM: To describe the experience of per oral endoscopic myotomy in children.
METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of data taken from the patients with confirmed esophageal achalasia who had had POEM. Clinical efficacy was assessed using the Eckard scale.
RESULTS: In 2018–2021, 8 children with average age 14.4 years were treated with POEM surgery. Before POEM, 2 children underwent balloon dilatation of the cardia. The surgery was technically performed in all children. Dysphagia was eliminated in all patients, and none of them required any additional intervention. A significant decrease in Eckard scale scores was registered in all children after surgery.
CONCLUSION: Our results confirm findings that POEM is an effective procedure for treating esophageal achalasia. However, a longer follow-up period and a larger group of patients are needed to confirm POEM role in the management of children with esophageal achalasia.