Medicover achieves POEM procedure breakthrough

Medicover Hospitals, Secunderabad, successfully treated a 61-year-old woman suffering from Achalasia Cardia, a rare and often misdiagnosed esophageal motility disorder, using a cutting-edge endoscopic procedure known as Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).

The patient, a resident of Secunderabad, had been dealing with severe swallowing difficulties, recurrent cough, nausea, and retrosternal burning for several months. Her condition had deteriorated to the point where even liquid intake caused significant discomfort. A CT scan revealed a markedly dilated esophagus, prompting further evaluation at Medicover. Endoscopy and High-Resolution Manometry confirmed Achalasia Cardia, a condition affecting just one in every 100,000 people.

Achalasia occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter fails to relax, causing food to stagnate in the esophagus and increasing the risk of aspiration, malnutrition, and weight loss. Globally, nearly 30–40% of cases are diagnosed late, as symptoms like swallowing difficulty or chronic acidity are often mistaken for common gastric issues.