Here are six things to know:
1. Researchers from Allegheny (Pa.) Health Network’s Esophageal and Lung Institute examined 33 patients with achalasia and non-achalasia disorders who underwent the POEM procedure.
2. The majority of patients saw improvement in their ability to swallow and reduction or elimination of other symptoms such as chest pain.
3. POEM is an inpatient procedure that takes one to three hours to complete. The procedure is performed with an endoscope.
4. Only a few select facilities offer the procedure and around 6,000 POEM procedures have been performed worldwide.
5. The research at Allegheny Health Network was led by Toshitaka Hoppo, MD, PhD, and Blair Jobe, MD, director of the Esophageal and Lung Institute.
6. Allegheny Health Network physicians were the first in Pennsylvania to offer POEM to patients.
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