Gastric Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (G-POEM)
What is Gastric Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (G-POEM)?
Gastric Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy or G-POEM is an innovative treatment method to help manage the symptoms of gastroparesis.
Gastropareses is a condition which sees the stomach struggling to empty its contents in the normal way. This means food passes through the stomach much more slowly than usual. The condition is caused by damage to both the nerves and muscles of the stomach and due to spasming of the pylorus valve.
Gastric Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy can effectively treat the condition without the need for invasive surgery.
What is G-POEM?
G-POEM involves relaxing the pylorus to allow the flow of food and drink to pass normally from the stomach into the small intestine. G-POEM is an endoscopic procedure which leaves no scarring or superficial damage. It is a similar procedure to gastroscopy.
The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic and involves an endoscope passing down into the oesophagus to reach the pylorus A small cut is made into the inner layer of the stomach wall using a specialised electrosurgical knife which tunnels below the inner lining of the stomach, allowing the muscles to be safely cut.
Like with all endoscopic procedures there are no stitches or skin wounds to worry about.
The procedure requires a short hospital stay as you will be under general anaesthetic. It is also important to be monitored for a short while after the procedure.
Aftermath and Recovery
After the immediate recovery period after your procedure, you will need to follow a strict diet to protect your stomach lining as it heals.
On the day of your procedure, you will not eat or drink anything and the day after you will need to have a barium swallow test and a further endoscopy to check the lining of your stomach. If these results are fine, then you will be able to begin to have some liquids. This will begin with just water and then move onto h thicker liquids including soups.
Most patients remain for a further night in hospital for monitoring and if this goes well, you can go home.
It is vitally important you stick to a fluid diet for the first week after the procedure. For the second week, you can move onto purees and once these two weeks are up a low fibre diet with 4-5 small meals a day is recommended for another 4 weeks.
Your medical team will provide you with all the information you need and any additional medication you may require.
Get In Touch
For any enquiries about conditions, tests or treatments, please feel free to call Dr Rehan Haidry’s medical secretary Debra Hyams on:
Tel: 0203 423 7609 | Email: rhaidrymedsec@ccf.org