Preoperative manometric data can predict symptom improvement after per oral endoscopic myotomy for treatment of achalasia.

backgroundWhile per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of achalasia, it can be difficult to predict who will have a robust and durable response. Historically, high lower esophageal sphincter pressures have been shown to predict a worse response to endoscopic therapies such as botox therapy. This study was designed to evaluate if modern preoperative manometric data could predict a response to therapy after POEM.

methodsThis was a retrospective study of 144 patients who underwent a POEM at a single institution by a single surgeon over an 8-year period (2014-2022) who had high-resolution manometry performed preoperatively and had an Eckardt symptom score performed both preoperatively and postoperatively. The achalasia type and integrated relaxation pressures (IRP) were then tested for potential correlation with need for any further achalasia interventions postoperatively as well as the degree of Eckardt score reduction using univariate analysis.

resultsThe achalasia type on preoperatively manometry was not predictive of need for further interventions or degree of Eckardt score reduction (p = 0.74 and 0.44, respectively). A higher IRP was not predictive of need for further interventions however it was predictive of a greater reduction in postoperative Eckardt scores (p = 0.03) as shown by a nonzero regression slope.

conclusionIn this study, achalasia type was not a predictive factor in need for further interventions or degree of symptom relief. While IRP was not predictive of need for further interventions, a higher IRP did predict better symptomatic relief postoperatively. This result is opposite that of other endoscopic treatment modalities. Therefore, patients with higher IRP on high-resolution manometry would likely benefit from myotomy which provides significant symptomatic relief postoperatively.