Objective      To summarize the efficacy and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in treatment of achalasia.       Methods      The clinical data of 15 achalasia patients who underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy were analyzed retrospectively. The improvement of dysphagia and complications were evaluated at 3 day

1 month

6 month and 1 year after operation

respectively.       Results      In all the 15 patients

14 patients underwent a successful operation. Only one operation was stopped because of the reduction of blood oxygen saturation and respiratory failure during the operation. Dysphagia of the 14 patients was cured or significantly alleviated. The effective rates at 1 month and 1 year after operation were 100% and 87%

respectively. The esophageal diameter before operation was significantly different from that at 1 month

6 months and 1 year after operation [(8.3±2.8) cm vs (3.2±0.8) cm

(3.7±1.2) cm and (3.8±1.2) cm

P0.05]

while the difference of esophageal diameter between two different time points after operation was not significant (P0.05).       Conclusion      As a novel approach to achalasia treatment

the POEM has definite curative effect and high safety in a short term.