procedure for heller myotomy to treat achalasia

Treatment of Achalasia by Robot-Assisted Heller Myotomy

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder. The most common cause of achalasia is idiopathic, characterized by impairment of the circular and longitudinal muscular layers of the esophagus due to the destruction of the myenteric nerves in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)1. This leads to the inability of the LES to relax. Achalasia is also associated with an increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The gold standard for diagnosing achalasia is manometry2,3. However, endoscopy should be performed to rule out other causes of narrowing, such as gastro esophageal junction (GEJ) malignancy and other strictures.
The treatment of achalasia is divided into surgical and non-surgical options. Non-surgical treatments include the use of drugs such as calcium channel blockers and nitrates, as well as endoscopic treatments like dilation or botulinum toxin injection. Non-surgical treatments have high recurrence rates4,5. Surgical treatment, specifically laparoscopic or robotic myotomy, originally described as the heller myotomy, can be performed with or without an anti-reflux procedure. Surgical treatment provides the best long-term treatment and relieves achalasia symptoms by dissection of the muscles in the affected part of the esophagus around the LES6.
The decision to perform a fundoplication following Heller myotomy remains controversial. In theory, anti-reflux procedures, such as the Dor or Toupet procedures, reduce the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) following myotomy. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been developed as an option in the treatment of achalasia. Through a proximal submucosal tunnel, the muscular layer of the affected esophagus is divided distally to the level of LES and cardia7. We perform the Heller myotomy using a robotic approach. The robotic platform offers enhanced high-definition visualization of distal esophageal and hiatal anatomy, advanced range of motion, and decreased complication rates when compared to the laparoscopic approach8. Despite all the advantages of the robotic approach, the method and approach to surgical treatment of achalasia decision ultimately lies with the surgeon and is dependent on the available resources, level of comfort, and experience with the available techniques. The goal of this protocol is to serve as a guide and a valuable resource for training new foregut surgeons, as well as residents, making the steps of the surgery clear and understandable.

Author Spotlight: Cutting-Edge Robotic Heller Myotomy Protocol for Treatment of Achalasia

Robotic Heller Myotomy for Advancements in Surgical Management of Achalasia

The goal of protocol is really to standardize an approach to a very complex operation. Provide a valuable resource for other surgeons and surgical learners to have a really step-by-step method to perform the operation in a safe and efficient manner that leads to the highest quality outcome. The treatment of achalasia, there's multiple means, but the most robust and durable is what's called a Heller myotomy.And there's two different ways you can perform that. One is laparoscopically, which is kind of the older way, and the newer, more modern is with robotic surgery. With this protocol, we really dive deep into the robotic treatment of achalasia with a Heller myotomy, showing its advantages over a laparoscopic approach.It's complex, but the protocol simplifies it and makes it more durable and shows great value. So we have a large research institute, and we're continuously going to study achalasia and its treatment options. With this new protocol we will continue to study it, really looking for the durability and the long lasting nature of the myotomy and the various ways to approach it.We'll look for other options, but yes, we're gonna continue to study this, hopefully collaborate with other research institutes to get more patients, better outcomes, and dive deeper into the data. So the advantage of the protocol with the robotic platform, one, is its standardization. So now we finally have really well described easy to follow steps to the operation.And then with the robotic platform, with the dexterity of the instruments, the articulation, the ability to move and really find spaces, it's really like microscopic surgery. Compounding that with a three-dimensional view, it's far superior to laparoscopy, and we've showed improved outcomes within the operating room, decreased risk of complications. Now we just need to study that and see if it's a better definitive treatment for achalasia as well.We know it's better in the OR, we think it's gonna be better long-term as well. Yeah, so we will need to continuously question and study achalasia. Right now, there is no cure for the disease.All of the treatment options really are just treating the symptoms, doing that myotomy, releasing the muscle, making it easier for people to eat and swallow. But really we need to study the durability. We wanna dive deep into the questions and answer what is the most durable?What process or treatment is gonna lead to the longest lasting outcomes? So we can treat you once and have that last the rest of your life. Our belief is this protocol with the robotic platform is just that, but we'll continuously study this.

Procedure for Heller Myotomy to Treat Achalasia

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder. It occurs due to the destruction of nerves in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which leads to the ...