Active clinical trials for "Esophageal Achalasia"

The purpose of this study is to learn about the safety and usefulness of a procedure called endoscopic submucosal myotomy, which is a new technique in the treatment of achalasia. Achalasia is a disorder involving the lack of smooth muscle relaxation and sustained high pressure in the sphincter (muscle) of the lower esophagus. This may result in symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, chest pain, regurgitation of food and eventually, weight loss. For more than a decade, a laparoscopic surgical procedure known as Heller myotomy has been the primary treatment for achalasia in patients with low surgical risk. In Heller myotomy, the surgeon makes three to four small abdominal incisions, inserts tube-like instruments through them, and once inside, the junction between the esophagus and stomach is found, a lengthwise incision is made on the muscular ring surrounding the lower esophageal sphincter which weakens the muscle and the lower esophageal sphincter or muscle (LES) is then able to open more easily. However, there is an emerging field known as natural orifice (opening) transluminal (through the lumen) endoscopic surgery (NOTES). This approach involves passing an endoscope - a thin tube with a built-in camera, light and minuscule tools through the natural opening in the body, like the mouth in order to perform less invasive surgery without any external wounds or scars. The procedure is done using the Submucosal Endoscopy with Mucosal Flap (SEMF) technique which involves passing an endoscope through the mouth into the esophagus, where a small incision is made on the lining of the esophagus, known as the mucosa. A balloon is then inserted and dilated in the submucosa - the layer between the inner lining of the esophagus and the outer wall consisting of the muscle of the esophagus. Dilation of the balloon in the submucosa creates a tunnel that allows insertion of the endoscope and access to the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). A long incision is then carefully made on the posterior portion of the muscular ring that forms the LES. The incision divides the muscle fibers of the LES, which weakens the muscle, allowing for the easier passage of food while preserving some valve function to prevent reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. The expected duration of participation is up to 10 years from the time study participants undergo the endoscopic surgical procedure.

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.

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.

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.