Technique for transesophageal endoscopic cardiomyotomy (Heller myotomy): Video presentation at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) 2008, Philadelphia, PA

Background: Previous investigators have shown the feasibility of performing an esophageal myotomy using natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), but have been unsuccessful at extending the myotomy onto the body of the stomach. Methods: In a nonsurvival porcine model, the authors used the self-approximating translumenal access technique (STAT) to create a submucosal tunnel in the upper esophagus and to extend it onto the body of the stomach allowing a complete cardiomyotomy. Results: The STAT approach was successfully used to create a submucosal tunnel and perform a complete myotomy of the gastroesophageal junction without complication. Conclusions: A complete Heller-type cardiomyotomy can be successfully performed using transesophegeal NOTES.