title: How i do it: per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic Heller myotomy has become the therapy of choice for achalasia. In the last three years, clinical experience with a novel approach to this disease, Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM), has grown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herein, we describe the technical steps in the POEM procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, the method appears to be a safe alternative to standard laparoscopic Heller myotomy, but further assessment is needed to understand long-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, CWRU School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. jponsky@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ponsky
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pauli
mesh_terms: D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D004867:Equipment Design; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000601:surgery*; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000379:methods*