Short Vs Standard Length Myotomy in Achalasia

March 14, 2024 updated by: A. Aziz Aadam, Northwestern University

Outcomes of Short-length vs Standard-length Myotomy Using Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for Achalasia: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

The objective of this randomized controlled trial (non-inferiority study) is to evaluate the outcomes of 4 cm short myotomy compared to the 8 cm standard length myotomy in Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for patients with achalasia. We hypothesize that a shorter myotomy with POEM will have the same clinical efficacy as standard length myotomy based on patient-reported Eckardt score with shorter procedure times and reduced complications.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

Achalasia is a disorder of esophageal dysmotility characterized by dysfunctional peristalsis and increased lower esophageal sphincter (LES) tone. Achalasia is further divided into three subtypes using high-resolution manometry (HRM) following the Chicago Classification. Type I, or classic achalasia, and Type II achalasia are both characterized by aperistalsis and increased LES tone and are thought to be a spectrum of the same disease process with Type II evolving into Type I.

Per-oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) was first developed in 2008 as a treatment for achalasia. The technique involves a trans-oral approach with a flexible endoscope. An endoscopic incision is made in the esophagus and a submucosal tract is created towards the LES and gastric cardia to expose the underlying muscle of the LES and distal esophagus. The inner circular muscle is then dissected to create a myotomy and the tract is then closed with endoscopic clips. By creating a myotomy, the increased LES tone is improved, allowing food to pass into the stomach in order to relieve the dysphagia caused by achalasia.

Unlike Type III achalasia, where POEM myotomy length is determined by HRM, the standard myotomy length in Type I/Type II achalasia is typically 8 cm. The rationale for the 8 cm myotomy is derived from the Heller myotomy procedure which is a laparoscopic surgery approach in which the teaching has been to perform at least a 5 cm myotomy in the esophagus and an additional 2-3 cm myotomy in the gastric cardia. However, the purpose of the myotomy in POEM, is to reduce the LES tone. The clinical efficacy of the procedure comes from the myotomy of the high pressure zone within the LES, which is only 2-3cm in length. This is much shorter than the current standard POEM myotomy length. There are a few potential pitfalls regarding longer myotomy lengths in the esophagus and in the gastric cardia. A longer esophageal myotomy may result in esophageal wall strain in the area weakened by esophageal myotomy resulting in a blown out myotomy which is identified by the presence of a pseudo-diverticulum endoscopically. Longer gastric cardia myotomy has been thought to lead to an increased rate of gastroesophageal reflux in patients undergoing POEM. There are no data looking at shorter myotomy lengths in POEM for Type I and Type II achalasia. Our anecdotal experience at Northwestern when performing short myotomy during POEM has not resulted in any difference in procedural efficacy.

STUDY ENDPOINTS:

Upon enrollment, patients will complete the Eckardt study questionnaire and the GERDQ questionnaire on the initial visit. Enrolled subjects will complete POEM as per clinical standard of care with the following specifications. Patients will be randomized to receive a short myotomy of 4 cm or standard myotomy of 8 cm. Following POEM, patients will be followed in clinic per standard of care and study questionnaires will be administered at follow-up visits. The Eckardt Symptom score is validated for research use in achalasia and is the tool with which we monitor success rates for treatment of achalasia. We will also monitor GERD symptoms with the GERDQ questionnaire. The endpoints for this study following randomization and completion of 30 POEM procedures are:

  1. 3, 12 and 24-months of follow-up to monitor Eckardt score for all 30 participants
  2. 3, 12 and 14-months of follow-up to monitor safety and GERD for all 30 participants

PROCEDURES INVOLVED:

Patients will be recruited from the pool of patients seen in esophageal clinics and endoscopy centers at Northwestern's Digestive Health Center who are specifically consented to undergo POEM for Type I or Type II achalasia and also in patients with EGJ outflow obstruction that demonstrate features of achalasia. Involvement with the study will not determine or affect eligibility or recommendation for POEM in the treatment of achalasia. Upon enrollment, patients will complete all study questionnaires on the initial visit - these include our GERDQ questionnaire and our Northwestern Esophageal Quality of Life Survey.

Following enrollment, 30 patients will be randomized to receive either a 4 cm or 8 cm myotomy. Randomization will occur via computer randomization software. At the time of the procedure, the endoscopist will be given the randomized grouping in an opaque envelope (either 4 cm or 8 cm myotomy). Participants will then undergo Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy as per standard of care with flexible endoscope using an anterior approach. The only difference in the procedure will be the length of the muscle layer dissection (myotomy). Fifteen subjects will undergo the standard 8 cm myotomy, which includes 7 cm myotomy of the esophagus and 1 cm myotomy of the gastric cardia. Fifteen subjects will undergo a short 4 cm myotomy, which includes 3 cm myotomy in the esophagus and a 1 cm myotomy of the gastric cardia. All participants will undergo intra-operative functional monitoring as is standard of care at Northwestern to ensure adequate response to myotomy. If the shorter myotomy is insufficient, the patient can undergo standard-length myotomy.

Participants will be monitored as per standard care before, during and after POEM procedure. Post-procedure follow-up for both groups will adhere to standard of care. Data will be collected on a prospective data from EPIC electronic health care records. Data collected will include demographic information, imaging results, functional studies (specifically EndoFlip and HRM) as well as questionnaire data.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All patients aged 18+ diagnosed with Type I or Type II achalasia, and patients with EGJ Outflow Obstruction with features of achalasia based on HRM or Endoscopic Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (EndoFLIP)
  • All subjects must have given signed, informed consent prior to registration in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient with Type III achalasia or spastic esophageal dysmotility disorders requiring long myotomy as determined by HRM
  • All patients who are unable or unwilling to give consent will not be included in the study
  • Patients who are pregnant, vulnerable populations such as prisoners, life expectancy < 1 year based on concurrent comorbidities, coagulopathy with INR > 1.5 that cannot be reversed, thrombocytopenia with platelets < 50,000 that cannot be corrected with blood products, unable to safely undergo elective endoscopy due to current comorbidities, and inability to pass standard endoscope.
  • Patients who have already undergone treatment with POEM or Heller Myotomy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Standard Length Myotomy
Patients randomized to received 8 cm standard length myotomy in Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for achalasia
Procedure: Standard Length Myotomy
Standard Length Myotomy
Experimental: Short Length Myotomy
Patients randomized to received 4 cm standard length myotomy in Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for achalasia
Procedure: Short Myotomy
Evaluation of short length myotomy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Compare symptomatic improvement of achalasia based on Eckardt Score following POEM with 4 cm myotomy vs 8 cm myotomy
Time Frame: 2 years
At 1, 6 and 12 months, patient reported outcome of achalasia symptoms will be assessed. The Eckardt Score is a validated research tool for achalasia symptoms. Scores range from 0-12. A higher score indicates worse symptoms. We will compare Eckardt Score pre-POEM and post-PEM at various time points.
2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Compare procedure complications after 4 cm myotomy with POEM compared to 8 cm myotomy with POEM
Time Frame: 1 year
We will monitor for any evidence of complications post-procedure including bleeding, perforation and blown-out myotomy.
1 year
Compare procedural time and intra-procedural findings between 4 cm myotomy with POEM compared to 8 cm myotomy with POEM
Time Frame: 1 year
We will record procedure times and procedural findings including submucosal tunnel length, position of myotomy, cautery settings for myotomy, need for revision of myotomy and endoclips used for tunnel closure.
1 year
Compare post-POEM gastro-esophageal reflux between 4 cm myotomy and 8 cm myotomy using GERDQ assessment.
Time Frame: 2 years
At 1, 6 and 12 months, patient reported outcome of acid reflux will be assessed. The GERDQ is a validated survey tool to assess acid reflux symptoms. Scores range from 0-18 with a higher score indicating worse symptoms.
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Northwestern University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 1, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 29, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

February 29, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 5, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 11, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

March 15, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 15, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 14, 2024

Last Verified

March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STU00212053

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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