Peroral endoscopic myotomy: procedural complications and pain management for the perioperative clinician

Introduction

Patients who suffer from dysphagia, dysfunctional relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and lack of peristalsis of the esophageal body may fit the criteria for achalasia.¹ Regurgitation with dysphagia to solids and liquids is also suggestive of this condition, which historically has been treated with pneumatic dilatation of the distal esophagus or surgical myotomy. Botulinum toxin injections became popular owing to its ease, safety, and fairly high initial efficacy, although botulinum toxin injections are less used today due to lack of durability. Surgical treatment consists of the open or laparoscopic Heller myotomy, which is associated with surgical and anesthetic risk and postoperative reflux.

A new minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure to treat achalasia is the peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure, of which the first clinical series were reported in 2010.² A growing body of literature supports POEM as a therapy for achalasia that is both safe and effective, particularly when considering the limitations of the other available surgical and nonsurgical options.^3–6 However, large randomized clinical trials are ongoing in an effort to demonstrate long-term (> 1 year) benefit of POEM versus surgery and pneumatic dilation.

The POEM procedure has been extensively described elsewhere.^7,8 Briefly, after induction of general endotracheal anesthesia and administration of intravenous antibiotics, the endoscopist identifies the LES and creates a submucosal bleb in the mid esophagus with dyed fluid injection (to identify the demarcation between the muscle layers). The endoscope is inserted into the submucosal space through a longitudinal incision created by an electrocautery knife, and a long tunnel in the submucosal space is created past the LES into the proximal stomach, exposing the inner circular muscle throughout (Figure 1). Next, the myotomy is carried out from a point several centimeters distal to the mucosal entry point, with a typical length of 8–10 cm above gastroesophageal junction and 2–3 cm into the cardia of the stomach. The circular muscle bundle fibers are targeted and cut, thereby relaxing the distal esophagus.

Figure 1 Endoscope inserted and used to create submucosal tunnel. Note: Used with permission of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved.46

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) insufflation is used during the procedure to minimize gas-related complications; however, a number of adverse events have been reported during and after POEM including pneumo/capnothorax, pneumo/capnoperitoneum, tension capnopericardium with cardiac arrest, and subcutaneous emphysema resulting in delayed extubation. Little has been written about perioperative pain management in these patients, who are typically observed overnight in hospital and then dismissed home on clear liquid diet after an esophagram excludes an esophageal leak.

A very limited body of research touches on anesthetic management of the POEM procedure,^9,10 including complications of importance to the perioperative clinician and pain management of patients undergoing POEM. Therefore, the twofold purpose of this manuscript is to report on our initial experience with perioperative pain management in this patient population and to provide a narrative review of POEM complications of interest to anesthesiologists and other perioperative clinicians.

Methods

This retrospective study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board, who deemed written informed consent was not required due to the retrospective nature. We reviewed our anesthetic and pain management experience with the initial eleven patients treated with POEM at our medical center. The medical record was reviewed for patient demographics, pre-POEM pain medication use, intraoperative and postoperative pain medication administration, and post-POEM pain scores. The medical record was also reviewed for any periprocedural complications. Although specific intraoperative anesthetic parameters have been described previously,¹⁰ peak airway pressure and highest end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) are of interest to anesthesiologists; as such, we also gathered this information from our anesthetic record.

To guide a narrative review of complications of interest to anesthesiologists and other perioperative clinicians, we performed a search of the medical literature for reported complications of the POEM procedure (search terms: peroral, myotomy, anesthesia, complications, and adverse events) using Ovid MEDLINE^® In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE^®, Embase, EBM Reviews – Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EBM Reviews – Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for English language articles on POEM for the past 5 years.

Results

Demographic and intraoperative variables are summarized in Table 1. All of the patients except one were dismissed from the hospital the next day, and one was dismissed on day 2. This patient had complained of chest pain when he arrived on the hospital floor from postanesthesia care unit, and was transferred to intensive care unit (ICU). There was no evidence of myocardial ischemia and it was concluded that he was experiencing only postprocedure pain. There were no reported procedural or anesthetic complications in these initial eleven patients treated with POEM at our institution. None of the patients required decompression of pneumo/capnoperitoneum, and intraoperative ventilation was not problematic, including management of ETCO₂ and peak airway pressures.

Table 1 Demographics and intraoperative variables of patients undergoing POEM for achalasia Note: Values presented as mean (SD) unless otherwise noted. Abbreviations: POEM, peroral endoscopic myotomy; SD, standard deviation; ETCO2, end-tidal carbon dioxide.

Pain scores and medication use are summarized in Table 2. On average, pain scores were in the mild–moderate range (3.3 on a 0–10 numeric rating scale), although at least one patient experienced pain in the severe range (eg, 7/10 intensity). Pain scores over the hospital course are shown in Figure 2, demonstrating a decline in pain severity that was in the mild–moderate range throughout in most patients. Substernal chest discomfort was the most common pain complaint; as noted earlier – one patient complained of post-POEM chest pain and was admitted to ICU for observation. During their hospital course, some patients required several classes of pain medications, including opioids, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ketorolac). None of the patients were taking opioids before their procedure.

Table 2 Pain scores and pain medication use during and after POEM procedures Note: Values presented as mean (SD) unless otherwise noted. Abbreviations: POEM, peroral endoscopic myotomy; PACU, postanesthesia care unit; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 2 Pain scores over the hospital course of treatment. Abbreviations: POEM, peroral endoscopic myotomy; PACU, postanesthesia care unit.

Using the aforementioned search criteria, our literature search initially identified 115 publications on POEM, anesthesia, and complications, or adverse events (Figure 3). However, after deleting duplicates, abstracts, and papers either not associated with POEM or not associated with complications of POEM, 35 manuscripts were included in our review.^6,9–42 The common or serious perioperative adverse events, judged to be of interest to anesthesiologists and other perioperative clinicians, are summarized in Table 3. To put these complications in perspective in terms of severity and frequency, we also used as reference two recent POEM position papers from the gastrointestinal literature.^43,44

Figure 3 Flow chart of study selection process. Abbreviation: POEM, peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Table 3 Complications and events associated with POEM Abbreviation: POEM, peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Discussion

On the basis of our initial experience and review of the literature, the POEM procedure is a safe and effective minimally invasive technique to treat achalasia. Although the number of patients we have treated is small, no large-scale studies have been published on pain or anesthesia outcomes related to this procedure. We are the first to publish detailed perioperative pain management data. Although Li et al³⁶ noted 24 out of 234 patients (~10%) suffered “severe” pain post-POEM, our results suggest that the procedure does not require large amounts or prolonged treatment with opioids. Chest pain rarely persists for months after the procedure, although this may be due to residual symptoms from chronic achalasia and not postprocedural per se. A multimodal approach to pain management, including a combination of acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and intermediate acting opioids, appears to be adequate in this patient population.

In terms of complications, a wide range of frequencies has been reported. Table 3 summarizes reported POEM complications judged to be of interest to perioperative clinicians; fortunately, serious and lasting adverse events appear to be rare in experienced centers. Not all of the papers we identified defined how they identified adverse events. In some of the studies, complications were identified only during the procedure (not postoperatively). Various imaging modalities were used to identify outcomes such as pleural effusion (eg, computed tomography [CT] scan versus chest X-ray). Finally, some of the centers were reporting their initial experience with POEM, and may be expected to have a higher rate of adverse events compared to more experienced care providers. Position papers from a national endoscopy society helped to give perspective to these adverse events in terms of risk, frequency, and severity.^43,44

Some comorbidities of interest to perioperative clinicians have been deemed contraindications to POEM.⁴⁴ These include severe pulmonary disease (eg, extensive bullous disease), coagulopathy, or prior endoscopic mucosal resection of the esophagus. Anesthesia professionals should be prepared for the risk of aspiration in this patient population; rapid sequence induction of anesthesia is typically carried out with endotracheal intubation.

Because of the use of CO₂ insufflation within the esophageal wall, which is thinly separated from or directly exposed to surrounding structures during the procedure, perioperative clinicians must be vigilant for pneumo/capnothorax, pneumo/capnoperitoneum, and subcutaneous emphysema. Ren et al¹³ reported a 25% incidence of pneumothorax, although CT scanning was used for diagnosis and not associated with any adverse events except the need for chest tube placement in some patients. In contrast, Kurian et al³⁴ reported only one in 40 patients suffered a capnothorax, which was treated with needle decompression. Significant hemodynamic changes would indicate the need for chest tube placement, especially if there is evidence of tension pneumothorax.

Because of the proximity of the esophagus to the mediastinum and lungs, it is not surprising that pneumo/capnomediastinum, pleural effusion, pneumo/capnothorax, and capnopericardium have been reported. In the case of capnopericardium, a cardiac arrest occurred, but fortunately resulted in a good outcome for the patient.⁹ Vigilance to changes in airway pressures and hemodynamic perturbations are necessary to ensure early intervention, which requires action on part of both the endoscopy and anesthesia teams. The use of insufflation and CO₂ flow should be minimized by the endoscopist, especially when the endoscope is within the submucosal tunnel.

The literature and our experience suggests that in most patients, increasing minute ventilation is all that is required to manage the increase in ETCO₂ associated with CO₂ insufflation. Subcutaneous emphysema may be slow to resolve in patients with cardiopulmonary disease, requiring intubation for a few hours postprocedure. Exposure of the abdomen during the procedure and careful observation of airway pressures should provide early warning of pneumo/capnoperitoneum, which can be decompressed with a Veress needle (Genicon, Winter Park, FL, USA). Postoperative bleeding is always a concern but apparently is infrequent, with a (highest) reported rate we could find of 7%.²³ Long-term adverse events are gastroesophageal reflux disease (in 20%–46% of patients after POEM)⁴⁵ and incomplete myotomy.

Despite potential adverse events, a body of literature suggests that in high-volume practices with significant experience in POEM, the procedure can be carried out safely in an endoscopy unit rather than a traditional operating room.³¹ Wherever the procedure is carried out, there must be excellent communication between the endoscopy and anesthesia teams and access to resources for unusual events, such as chest tube insertion by surgery or interventional pulmonology. In our practice, pulmonary medicine shares the same procedural area as therapeutic endoscopy.

We have not found it necessary to use more than standard American Society of Anesthesiologist monitors for POEM, although arterial blood pressure monitoring is a consideration for high-risk patients such as those with significant pulmonary disease.

Limitations

Limitations of our study include the small number of patients and the fact that data were gathered in a retrospective manner. Postprocedure pain management was not standardized for these cases. None of the patients were on preoperative opioids for chronic pain. This provided a homogenous group of subjects for analysis of postprocedure opioid use, but gives no insight into pain after POEM in opioid tolerant patients. More long-term studies of the outcome of POEM are needed, including development of gastroesophageal reflux disease and dysphagia control.

Conclusion

Our initial experience with POEM suggests that patients experience mild–moderate pain that is usually managed with modest doses of opioids. Nonopioid analgesics appear to be a useful part of a multimodal pain management plan. In terms of complications, no reported adverse outcomes occurred in our initial group of eleven patients. However, our literature review revealed a wide range of potential complications of interest to perioperative clinicians, notably pneumo/capnoperitoneum and pneumo/capnothorax, but also more serious events such as capnopericardium and aspiration. Awareness of these possible complications should contribute to the best possible outcome for patients. As always, the care team must communicate effectively and remain vigilant for potential adverse events.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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