Efficacy of cryotherapy as first line therapy in patients with Barrett\u27s neoplasia: a systematic review and pooled analysis

Cryotherapy has been used as salvage therapy; however, its efficacy as first line treatment in patients with Barrett\u27s esophagus (BE) neoplasia has not been well studied. The aim of this paper was to perform a systematic review to look at the efficacy of cryotherapy as the primary treatment of BE. An electronic database search was performed (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar) to search for studies with cryotherapy as the initial primary modality of ablation in patients with BE neoplasia. Studies that included patients with other prior forms of therapy were excluded. The primary outcomes were the pooled rates of complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) and CE of neoplasia (CE-N). Secondary outcomes were recurrence rates of neoplasia and intestinal metaplasia (IM) and adverse events. The statistical software OpenMetaAnalyst was used for analysis with pooled estimates reported as proportions (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) with heterogeneity (I2) among studies. The search revealed 6 eligible studies with a total of 282 patients (91.5% male, average age 65.3 years) with 459 person years of follow-up. 69.35% [95% CI (52.1%-86.5%)] of patients achieved CE-IM and 97.9% (95% CI: 95.5%-100%) had CE-N. 7.3% of patients had persistent dysplasia with 4% progressing to cancer. The recurrence rate of neoplasia was 10.4 and that of IM was 19.1 per 100 patient years of follow-up. The overall rate of stricture formation was 4.9%. There are scarce data on the use of cryotherapy as the primary modality for the treatment of BE dysplasia. The published data demonstrate efficacy rates of 69% and 98% for complete eradication of metaplasia and neoplasia, respectively. These results need to be assessed in prospective, comparative trials with other forms of therapy

Abrikossoff Tumor (Granular Cell Tumor) Presenting in the Esophagus

Abrikossoff tumors, also known as granular cell tumors, are rare and often benign soft tissue neoplasms of Schwann cell origin. The vast majority of cases are reported in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Only 0.001% of Abrikossoff tumors are estimated to occur in the esophagus. We report a rare case of Abrikossoff tumor of the esophagus in a patient who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for abdominal pain and nausea. Keywords: abrikossoff tumor; esophagogastroduodenoscopy (egd); esophagus; granular cell tumor

Rehospitalization, Treatment, and Resource Use After Inpatient Admission for Achalasia in the USA

Introduction: Readmission for achalasia treatment is associated with significant morbidity and cost. Factors predictive of readmission would be useful in identifying patients at risk. Methods: We performed a retrospective study using the Nationwide Readmission Database for the year 2016 and 2017. We collected data on hospital readmissions of 17,848 adults who were hospitalized for achalasia and discharged. The 30-day readmission rate as well as the primary cause, mortality rate, in-hospital adverse events, and total hospitalization charges were examined. A cox multivariate regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for 30-day readmission, including the surgical or endoscopic treatment used during the index admission. Results: From 2016 to 2017, the 30-day readmission rate for index admission with achalasia was 15.2%. Of these 15.2%, 34% were readmitted with persistent symptoms of achalasia or treatment-related complications. Older age, higher comorbidity index, possessing private insurance, and those with either pneumatic balloon dilation or no endoscopic/surgical treatment showed higher odds of readmission on multivariate analysis. Those treated with laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) or peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) showed lower odds of readmission. There was no difference in rates of readmission between those undergoing POEM or LHM, but mortality rate for readmission was significantly higher for the LHM group. The in-hospital mortality rate and length of stay were significantly higher for readmissions (p \u3c 0.01) than the index admissions. Conclusion: Three in 20 patients admitted with achalasia are likely to be readmitted within 30 days of their initial hospitalization, a number which can be higher in untreated patients and in those with multiple comorbidities. Rehospitalizations bear a higher mortality rate than the initial admission and present a burden to the healthcare system. Keywords: 30-Day readmission; Achalasia; Epidemiology; NRD; Outcomes research; POEM versus LHM

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy for the treatment of non-achalasia esophageal dysmotility disorders: experience from a single high-volume center

Background: Achalasia is a rare disorder of esophageal motility that induces progressive intolerance to oral intake. Other esophageal dysmotility disorders include esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), distal esophageal spasm (DES), hypercontractile esophagus (HE), and other minor disorders of peristalsis (MDP) and can present similarly to achalasia despite different pathophysiologies. Prior studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of POEM in the treatment of achalasia, but little is reported regarding POEM\u27s role in treating non-achalasia esophageal dysmotility disorders (NAEDD). This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of POEM in the treatment of NAEDD. Study design: This is a retrospective review of consecutive POEM cases from June 1, 2011, to February 1, 2021. NAEDD were characterized according to the Chicago classification. Primary outcome measure was the resolution of preoperative symptoms. Secondary outcomes include preoperative diagnosis, myotomy length, conversion to laparoscopic or open procedure, operative time, and length of stay (LOS). Technical success was defined as the completion of an 8 cm myotomy including the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and extending 2 cm distal to the EGJ. Clinical success was defined as a postoperative Eckardt score ≤ 3. Results: Of 124 cases of POEM performed during the study period, 17 were performed for NAEDD. Technical success was achieved in all 17 patients (100%). Of the fifteen patients that had documented postoperative Eckardt scores, 13 were ≤ 3, achieving a clinical success rate of 87%. Subgroup analysis (HE/MDP/DES vs. EGJOO) showed no significant differences in the preoperative or postoperative Eckardt scores between groups, and both groups demonstrated a significant decrease in Eckardt scores after POEM. No cases were aborted for technical or clinical reasons, and there were no adverse outcomes. Conclusion: POEM is a safe and efficacious treatment modality for NAEDD. Further work is needed to develop optimal treatment strategies for this complex group of diseases. Keywords: Dysmotility; Esophagus; Myotomy; POEM