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POEM Trial: Multi-center Study Comparing Endoscopic Pneumodilation and Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM)

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Achalasia
Interventions
Procedure: PD
Procedure: POEM
Registration Number
NCT01793922
Lead Sponsor
KU Leuven
Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) to the efficacy of pneumodilation as the initial treatment of symptomatic idiopathic achalasia. It is hypothesized that POEM has a higher long-term efficacy than pneumodilation in treatment of therapy-naive patients with idiopathic achalasia.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
150
Inclusion Criteria
  • Between 18 and 75 yr of age
  • Manometric diagnosis of achalasia
  • Eckardt score > 3
  • Informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Severe cardio-pulmonary disease or other serious disease leading to unacceptable surgical risk previous treatment, except treatment with nitroderivatives, Ca++ channel blockers or sildenafil, or dilation with Savary bougies or balloons of 2 cm diameter or smaller.

Pseudo-achalasia Mega-esophagus (> 7 cm) and/or sigmoid-like esophagus Previous esophageal or gastric surgery (except for gastric perforation) Not capable to fill out questionnaires (f.e. due to language barrier) Not available for follow-up Esophageal diverticula in the distal esophagus Malignant or premalignant esophageal lesions Patients with liver cirrhosis and/or esophageal varices Pregnancy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PDPDpneumodilation
POEMPOEMperoral endoscopic myotomy
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
therapeutic succes2 years

The time till failure is the primary outcome parameter. The time is measured from date of pneumatic dilation (last session) or POEM to date of relapse of symptoms (date of establishment). Symptoms will be evaluated using the Eckardt scoring system (Table 1.). Therapeutic success is defined as a drop in Eckardt score to ≤ 3 after treatment and symptom control at yearly follow-up which is also defined as an Eckardt score of ≤ 3.

If symptoms recur within patients randomized for pneumatic dilation, retreatment with pneumatic dilation is allowed according to the protocol. If retreatment does not result in reduction of the symptom score below 4, the patient will be considered as a treatment failure.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
quality of life2 years

The quality of life is determined using a general QoL questionnaire, namely the SF36 questionnaire. In addition, a more disease specific questionnaire, i.e. the EORTC QLQ-OES24 questionnaire, is filled out. These questionnaires have scored the QoL at fixed time points during follow-up (1 month, 3 months and yearly).

complication rate2 years

Complications (perforation, bleeding, etc) occurring during or immediately following the procedure are recorded by the attending phycisian.

In addition, gastroesophageal reflux is measured using 24h pHmetry after 3 months and 1 year. The number of patients with pathological acid exposure (\>4.5% of time a pH\<4) will be assessed. Endoscopy is performed after 1 year to detect esophagitis. Esophagitis rates and LA grades of esophagitis will be assessed.

need for retreetment2 years

Retreatment is allowed in the pneumodilation group when symptoms recur, which is defined as an Eckardt score of \> 3. Symptom scores are assessed after one month, three months and then yearly.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UZ Leuven

🇧🇪

Leuven, Belgium

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