Bariatric & General Surgery Center
Now Serving The Metro Atlanta & More
Now offering Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
Dr Amir Aryaie is an expert and specializes on esophageal motility disorders such as achalasia and offers the latest minimally invasive procedures such as Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy aka POEM procedure and Robotic Heller Myotomy for Achalasia.
Achalasia is a disorder of the esophagus that makes it difficult to swallow solid or liquid foods. The esophagus is the tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach
At the lower end of the esophagus, where it connects to the stomach, there is a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES tightens, food can’t move from the esophagus into the stomach. When the LES relaxes, food can move from the esophagus into the stomach.
When people have achalasia:
The most common symptom of achalasia is trouble swallowing foods and drinks. Other symptoms can include:
Yes. If your doctor or nurse suspects that you have achalasia, he or she will do 1 or more of the following tests:
Doctors can treat achalasia in different ways. Treatments cannot cure achalasia, but they can improve symptoms. The different treatments include:
We believe top notch medical care should be accessible to everyone. At Ideal Body Institute, we work with highly respected medical specialists and offer state-of-the-art technology to deliver the highest quality medical care to our community. Guided by compassion and dedicated to outstanding results, we deliver affordable healthcare to our family of patients.
Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is the endoscopic equivalent of surgical myotomy and a newer technique for the management of achalasia. POEM utilizes the principles of submucosal endoscopy to transform the submucosal layer in the esophagus and proximal stomach into a tunnel, through which esophageal and gastric myotomy are carried out using a flexible endoscope. POEM is performed perorally without any incisions in the chest or abdomen with minimal pain and fast recovery!
This is a new procedure and very few surgeons around the country are offering this novel treatment approach achalasia. In some studies POEM was superior to Heller myotomy (another surgical option), especially for type III achalasia.
In addition, conditions such as “Jack Hammer Esophagus” and “diffuse esophageal spasms” can be treated with POEM procedure.
Heller Myotomy: this is a done laparoscopic or Robotic through small incision in the abdomen. This is a surgical procedure in which the muscles of the cardia (lower esophageal sphincter or LES) are cut, allowing food and liquids to pass to the stomach.
To choose the treatment that’s right for you, talk with your doctor. Ask him or her about the benefits, risks, and side effects of each treatment.
Yes. You will need to follow up with your doctor on a regular basis. He or she will check that your treatment is working and that it isn’t causing side effects.
Your doctor will also keep checking you for long-term problems. That’s because people with achalasia have a higher than normal chance of getting cancer or other problems of the esophagus.
Tampa Body Institute
912 Channelside Dr. Suite 2102,
Tampa, FL 33602
Tel: 813-499-0044