Pune: Doctors at Manipal Hospital, Baner, achieved a significant medical breakthrough by successfully treating a 34-year-old patient suffering from Achalasia cardia—a rare and complex esophageal condition.
The procedure, Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM), was performed by a team led by Dr. Prasad Bhate, Consultant Gastroenterologist, and showcased the hospital's commitment to advanced and minimally invasive treatments.
The patient had been dealing with severe symptoms for six months, including difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite, which significantly impacted their quality of life.
Diagnostic tests, including an Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (OGD Scopy), confirmed the diagnosis of Achalasia cardia—a condition affecting 8–12 per 100,000 people globally.
This disorder is caused by abnormal muscular spasms and the lower esophageal sphincter’s (LES) inability to relax, hindering food and liquid from passing into the stomach.
The POEM procedure, a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive endoscopic technique, involves precise muscle incisions in the esophagus to alleviate obstructions and restore normal swallowing function.
This method surpasses traditional approaches like Heller myotomy and pneumatic dilatation due to reduced invasiveness, quicker recovery, and improved patient outcomes.
Speaking about the case, Dr. Prasad Bhate highlighted the procedure's advantages: "Achalasia cardia is a challenging condition, but with the POEM technique, we can provide a minimally invasive solution that ensures faster recovery and better outcomes.
Our patient started drinking water within two hours post-treatment and progressed to a liquid diet within days, followed by a soft diet for ten days. Advanced diagnostic tools like esophageal manometry at our GI Motility Lab played a crucial role in accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.”
Anand Mote, Cluster Director, Manipal Hospital, Baner, Pune, remarked: "Our adoption of advanced techniques such as POEM highlights our dedication to offering cutting-edge, patient-centric care. This case reinforces our leadership in providing world-class solutions for complex gastrointestinal disorders and rare medical conditions.”