Active clinical trials for "Esophageal Achalasia"

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an incisionless procedure used to treat esophageal achalasia, performed by GI endoscopist without cutting any surface of the human body. The main constituent of the procedure is the myotomy part, through which the endoscopist cuts the muscle fibers in the submucosa. Since this procedure is completely new to the area of treatment of achalasia, it is unknown whether a posterior or an anterior myotomy is better in relieving the symptoms. Thenceforth, this study aims at randomizing patients with achalasia presenting for POEM to getting either the posterior or the anterior myotomy. Patients will be followed up for symptoms and complications; data will be extracted and the appropriate analysis will be employed to determine if there is any difference of outcome between the two techniques of myotomy.

Achalasia is a rare neurodegenerative esophageal motility disorder characterized by incomplete lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation, increased LES tone, and aperistalsis of the esophagus leading to dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain. therapies for achalasia consist of endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) and botulinum toxin injection (EBTI), or surgical Treatment via i Heller Myotomy; surgery is nowadays mostly performed via the laparoscopic approach. Surgical therapy demonstrated superior treatment efficacy compared to EBD and EBTI. Recently, an endoscopic means to perform myotomy via a submucosal tunnel has been developed, namely PerOral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM). Uncontrolled studies have indicated a symptomatic success rate of >90% for POEM in short term follow-ups.The aim of this study is to compare short and long-term feasibility, safety and efficacy of endoscopic (POEM) with laparoscopic myotomy (Heller myotomy) in the treatment of achalasia.

Recommended therapies for esophageal achalasia are endoscopic pneumatic dilation and Heller-Dor surgical myotomy. Endoscopic myotomy has been recently proposed in human patient in expert centers in Japan, US and Germany. In theory, endoscopic myotomy is as effective as surgical myotomy but less invasive and more effective with less complications than endoscopic pneumatic dilation. Up to now, published studies have confirmed these expectations, with 100% efficacy and no clinically significant complications. The present clinical trial with study the security and efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy in primary achalasia patients.

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the efficacy of two doses of botulinum toxin in the treatment of achalasia. II. Compare the safety of these two doses in these patients.

Patients with newly diagnosed achalasia have been submitted to either treatment with pneumatic dilatation or surgical myotomy. Minimal follow up five years.

This study evaluates the feasibility of endoscopic myotomy for achalasia. In achalasia, there is loss of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), as well as a higher baseline pressure in the LES. The most widespread treatment for this disease and the one that has the best long term results involves cutting the muscle layers of the lower esophagus and on the neighbouring stomach without injurying the underlying mucosa or inner layer of the esophageal wall. This is done during a surgery through the abdomen either with a big incision or more recently with the keyhole technique. This surgery has various potential complications, one of which being making a hole through the mucosa or not extending the cut on the muscle long enough to obtain adequate relaxation of the sphincter. The per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a new intervention that is done also under general anesthesia in the operating room; however, it involves no skin incisions and all the procedure is done through a fiber optic camera. It involves making a cut in the inner layer of the esophagus and then with cautery cut the muscle fibers responsible of the blockage and finally closing the initial opening with clips. In this study we will investigate the feasibility of this intervention both from a technical aspect as well as a logistical perspective given the local operating room constraints.

Endoscopic Esophageal Myotomy (POEM), the research procedure, splits the lower esophageal sphincter muscle fibers from the inside of the esophagus, avoiding several abdominal incisions (belly area cuts), by using an endoscope to create a small cut at the most inner layer of the esophagus to expose the esophageal sphincter muscle fibers from the inside of the esophagus. The investigators are studying whether subjects who undergo Endoscopic Esophageal Myotomy will have similar functional outcome, and at the same time less pain, scar formation and wound infection than with laparoscopic or open surgery.

The primary aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that Heller myotomy and Toupet fundoplication result in a lower rate of reflux symptoms and positive 24-hour pH testing when compared to Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication.

Achalasia is a rare motor disorder of the gastroesophageal junction which is associated with an increased pressure of the esophageal sphincter. This leads to impairment to swallow and heartburn. Esophageal myotomy, which is a surgical longitudinal incision of the esophageal muscle layer extending over to the gastroesophageal junction is the treatment of choice for achalasia. In order to prevent reflux of stomach content into the esophagus this has to be combined with an antireflux procedure where the upper part of the stomach (fundus) is wrapped around the esophagus (fundoplication). This procedure can be performed with the wrapped fundus either in front of the esophagus (Dor procedure) or behind (Toupet). The latter introduces an angulation of the esophagus, which possibly may lead to an impairment of swallowing ability and passage of food to the stomach. On the other hand, the Toupet procedure may give a better control of reflux. The primary endpoint of the study is symptoms of impaired swallowing 1 year after treatment. Secondary outcomes include reflux (pH measurements in the esophagus), radiological imaging of swallowing and quality of life.

To compare the efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy and Botulinum toxin injection in spastic esophageal disorders.