Esophageal Disorders: POEM in Kids, Mitomycin C for Refractory Strictures

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At our recent national meeting, Dr. Peter Kahrilas indicated that POEM (Per-oral Endoscopic Myotomy) was now the treatment of choice for most adults with achalasia (#NASPGAN19 Postgraduate Course -Part 3).

A Chone et al (JPGN 2019; 69: 523-7) provide recent multicenter retrospective data on POEM in the pediatric age group (mean age 14 years), n=117.

Key findings:

  • Clinical success, defined as Eckardt score ≤3 during followup, was achieved in 90.6% of cases. The Eckardt score was >3 in 5 (4.3%) and data was missing in 6 (5.1%)
  • Adverse events included 1 case with significant bleeding, 2 cases of aspiration pneumonia (related to anesthesia), 1 esopleural fistula (managed endoscopically), and 6 mild AEs (4 mucosomtomies, 2 subcutaneous emphysema)

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D Ley et al (JPGN 2019; 69: 528-32) provide retrospective data on 39 patients, median age 19 months, with refractory esophageal strictures which were treated with mitomycin C.  The authors considered mitomycin C after a minimum of two previous dilatations.

Key findings:

  • Etiology: The majority had strictures/stenosis associated with esophageal atresia (n=25) followed by caustic ingestion in 9.
  • Number of stenosis: The majority (n=35) had a single stenosis.
  • In 26 patients (67%), topical application of mitomycin C was considered a success based on a reduction in the number of dilatations.  In this group, the number of dilatations dropped from 102 to 17 over a comparable period.
  • 16 (41%) never required further dilatation following mitomycin C application

My take: This study provides some of the best evidence that mitomycin C may be helpful.  Long-term followup and more studies are needed.

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