Peroral endoscopic full and partial-thickness myotomy. A viability study in an animal model

Abstract Background Peroral endoscopic myotomy has recently been developed and performed on patients with good results. Aims To evaluate the technical feasibility of peroral endoscopic full-thickness and partial thickness myotomy in a porcine model. Material and methods Eighteen criollo pigs were randomly assigned to 2 groups: group A (partial-thickness myotomy) and group B (full-thickness myotomy). The mucosal defect proximal to the myotomy site was left open. On the seventh postoperative day the pig was euthanized and follow-up surgical exploration was performed. The duration of each procedure, postoperative progression of the animal, complications, and anatomopathologic findings were registered. Results The procedure was viable in all the pigs. The mean surgery duration was 81 ± 35.3 min (group A 51.11 ± 11.12, group B 111 ± 22.61; P Conclusions The endoscopic myotomy technique is feasible. Endoscopic partial-thickness myotomy was associated with shorter surgery duration and better results during the intraoperative period and the 7-day follow-up.