Results of Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy in Achalasia Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Symptoms After…

Cohort studyDigestive diseases and sciences· Jul 2026

Results of Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy in Achalasia Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Symptoms After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).

Elise M Wessels, Gwen M C Masclee, Marlies P Schijven, Albert J Bredenoord

GastroenterologyCohort studyTreatmentQ2IF 2.1

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy after failed peroral endoscopic myotomy has low long-term success.

Results of Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy in Achalasia Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Symptoms After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).

Elise M Wessels … Albert J Bredenoord

Digestive diseases and sciences · Jul 2026

Background

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (peroral endoscopic myotomy) is an effective and safe treatment for achalasia.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of performing laparoscopic Heller myotomy (laparoscopic Heller myotomy) in achalasia patients having persistent or recurrent symptoms after peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Methods

This retrospective study includes patients who underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy after they failed on peroral endoscopic myotomy, which was performed between August 2011 and March 2024.

n = 22 patients

13.6%

Results

13.6%

this low percentage of patients had successful symptom control from the follow-up surgery

n = 22 patients

More results

A marked decline in success rate of laparoscopic Heller myotomy following peroral endoscopic myotomy was observed over time: approximately 70% after one year and 30% after two years.

For patients with treatment failure after laparoscopic Heller myotomy, 73.7% required retreatment (n = 14/19), predominantly with pneumatic dilation.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy following peroral endoscopic myotomy yields only minimal benefit with a rapid loss of success over time.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These outcomes suggest limited clinical value of laparoscopic Heller myotomy following peroral endoscopic myotomy failure and indicate that alternative strategies may be preferable.

Results of Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy in Achalasia Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Symptoms After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).

Results of Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy in Achalasia Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Symptoms After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).

Related papers