Open Access

New diagnostic and therapeutic procedures applied in pediatric esophageal achalasia in a pediatric tertiary center: A case series

  • Authors:
    • Daniela Pop
    • Radu Samuel Pop
    • Teodora Surdea Blaga
    • Liliana David
    • Carmen Asavoaie
    • Marcel Tantau
    • Dan Lucian Dumitrascu
    • Dorin Farcau
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 17, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.11800
  • Article Number: 101
  • Copyright: © Pop et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Achalasia is an esophageal motor disorder that is rare in children. While the condition is uncommon, it is especially difficult to diagnose in pediatric patients; however, the ability to form a diagnosis has progressed markedly with the advent of esophageal high‑resolution manometry (HRM). The aim of the present study was to highlight particularities of the diagnosis, based on esophageal HRM, as well as the treatment of achalasia in children. The current study analyzed cases of achalasia from a single pediatric tertiary center, Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children (Cluj‑Napoca, Romania). The clinical data and the results of the investigations of seven children with achalasia, the first children to be evaluated using esophageal HRM in the center, were reported. The patients were aged between 11 and 18 years. All the patients were newly diagnosed with achalasia, except for one. The duration of symptoms was between 4 months and 2 years in the newly diagnosed patients. All the patients were assessed with conventional esophageal manometry and/or esophageal HRM. A multidisciplinary team contributed to the diagnosis and the management of achalasia. A total of 4 children diagnosed with type II achalasia were treated with peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and 3 of the patients were treated with pneumatic dilations. Overall, achalasia is a rare but challenging condition in children. A diagnosis starts with a clinical suspicion based on swallowing disorders and upper digestive endoscopy, and is confirmed by esophageal HRM. Therapy should be adapted to the type of achalasia, the age of the children and the severity. In the present study, a relatively recent treatment option, POEM, was applied in pediatric patients with minor immediate adverse events. The report of these cases adds to the limited experience of using HRM and POEM in children with achalasia.
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March-2023
Volume 25 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Pop D, Pop RS, Blaga TS, David L, Asavoaie C, Tantau M, Dumitrascu DL and Farcau D: New diagnostic and therapeutic procedures applied in pediatric esophageal achalasia in a pediatric tertiary center: A case series. Exp Ther Med 25: 101, 2023
APA
Pop, D., Pop, R.S., Blaga, T.S., David, L., Asavoaie, C., Tantau, M. ... Farcau, D. (2023). New diagnostic and therapeutic procedures applied in pediatric esophageal achalasia in a pediatric tertiary center: A case series. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 25, 101. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.11800
MLA
Pop, D., Pop, R. S., Blaga, T. S., David, L., Asavoaie, C., Tantau, M., Dumitrascu, D. L., Farcau, D."New diagnostic and therapeutic procedures applied in pediatric esophageal achalasia in a pediatric tertiary center: A case series". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 25.3 (2023): 101.
Chicago
Pop, D., Pop, R. S., Blaga, T. S., David, L., Asavoaie, C., Tantau, M., Dumitrascu, D. L., Farcau, D."New diagnostic and therapeutic procedures applied in pediatric esophageal achalasia in a pediatric tertiary center: A case series". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 25, no. 3 (2023): 101. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.11800