The program address endoscopic techniques used to manage achalasia, an incurable disease that occurs equally among men and women. It is characterized by insufficient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and difficulty in swallowing and is often misdiagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Achalasia should be suspected in those with dysphagia to solids and liquids, and in those with regurgitation unresponsive to an adequate trial of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. These patients commonly present with symptoms that may contribute to misdiagnosis including substernal chest pain during meals, unintended weight loss and heartburn.
The course provides recordings of a variety of case and interventional scenarios that were presented live from leading institutions in both the U.S. and Internationally. Moderated by leading authorities, these recordings demonstrate how to incorporate these techniques into hospital and other practice settings.
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants will be able to:
Live case # 1: HREM and EndoFlip (John Pandolfino, Northwestern)
Live case # 2: POEM (Mouen Khashab, Johns Hopkins)
Live case # 3: Pneumatic Dilation (Michael Vaezi, Vanderbilt)
Session 2
Moderators: Joan Chen, Michael Vaezi, Roberta Maselli, Mouen Khashab
Live case # 4: POEM (Chris Thompson, Brigham and Women’s hospital)
Live case # 5: Anti-reflux POEM (Stavros Stavropoulos, John D Archbold Memorial Hospital)
Lecture: Challenging Achalasia Cases (John Pandolfino, Northwestern)
Video case: Peroral Endoscopic Crurotomy (Stavros Stavropoulos, John D Archbold Memorial Hospital)
Mouen A. Khashab, MD, MASGEProfessor of Medicine and Director of Therapeutic EndoscopyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD
Venkata Sandeep Akshintala, M.B.B.S.Program Director, Medical Pancreatology Fellowship,Assistant Professor of MedicineJohns Hopkins MedicineBaltimore, MD, USA
John Pandolfino, MDNorthwestern Medical Faculty FoundationChicago, Illinois
Abdul Aziz Aadam, MDNorthwestern UniversityChicago, IL
Joan Chen, MDUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI
John O. Clarke, MD, FASGEStanford MedicineRedwood City, CA
Roberta Maselli, MDHumanitas Research HospitalMilan, Italy
Stavros Stavropoulos, MDArchbold Gastroenterology GroupThomasville, GA
Christopher Thompson, MD, MHES, MSc, FASGEBrigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, MA
Michael Vaezi, MDVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN