Hasegawa, Suguru

ObjectivesAchalasia is an esophageal motility disorder that impairs quality of life and is often missed (20–50%) on endoscopy. A newly developed computer‐aided detection (CAD) software has shown high accuracy for achalasia diagnosis in preclinical settings. However, its benefit in a clinical setting remains unclear.MethodsBetween February and August 2023, 83 endoscopists from 27 centers assessed 50 randomized endoscopic videos (25 achalasia, 25 nonachalasia) without and with CAD. Endoscopists assessed videos without CAD, then with CAD after 2 months. The primary end‐point was improvement in sensitivity for nonexperienced endoscopists (no endoscopic experience of achalasia). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy with and without CAD were compared using the McNemar test.ResultsSensitivity for diagnosing achalasia increased significantly with CAD, rising from 74.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 72.2–76.0%) to 91.2% (95% CI 89.9–92.4%) for all readers, showing a difference of 17.1% (95% CI 15.1–19.0%). Specifically, sensitivity improved from 66.9% (95% CI 63.6–70.0%) to 91.9% (95% CI 89.9–93.6%) among nonexperienced endoscopists, resulting in a difference of 25.0% (95% CI 21.7–28.4%), and from 79.5% (95% CI 77.1–81.8%) to 90.8% (95% CI 89.0–92.3%) among experienced endoscopists (endoscopic experience of at least one achalasia case), with a difference of 11.3% (95% CI 8.9–13.6%). Accuracy and specificity improved significantly with CAD assistance, regardless of reader's experience.ConclusionCAD improves achalasia detection by 17%, confirming preclinical results. The benefit was higher for nonexperienced endoscopists. CAD assistance may lead to prompt and effective treatment, minimizing the risk of false‐negative diagnosis in clinical practice.Trial registrationThis study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/) number: UMIN000053047.

Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and reflux esophagitis remain problems after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). This study aimed to elucidate the risk factors and long-term course of reflux esophagitis and symptomatic GERD after POEM. Methods This multicenter cohort study involved 14 high volume centers. Overall, 2905 patients with achalasia-related esophageal motility disorders treated with POEM were analyzed for reflux esophagitis, severe reflux esophagitis (Los Angeles classification C or D), and symptomatic GERD. Results Reflux esophagitis was diagnosed in 1886 patients (64.9 %). Age ≥ 65 years (risk ratio [RR] 0.85), male sex (RR 1.11), posterior myotomy (RR 1.12), esophageal myotomy > 10 cm (RR 1.12), and gastric myotomy > 2 cm (RR 1.17) were independently associated with reflux esophagitis. Severe reflux esophagitis was diagnosed in 219 patients (7.5 %). Age ≥ 65 years (RR 1.72), previous treatments (RR 2.21), Eckardt score ≥ 7 (RR 0.68), sigmoid-type achalasia (RR 1.40), and esophageal myotomy > 10 cm (RR 1.59) were factors associated with severe reflux esophagitis. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were more effective for reflux esophagitis at 5-year follow-up (P = 0.03) than after 1 year (P = 0.08). Symptomatic GERD was present in 458 patients (15.9 %). Symptom duration ≥ 10 years (RR 1.28), achalasia diagnosis (RR 0.68), integrated relaxation pressure ≥ 26 (RR 0.60), and posterior myotomy (RR 0.80) were associated with symptomatic GERD. The incidence of symptomatic GERD was lower at 5-year follow-up compared with that after 1 year (P = 0.04), particularly in PPI users (P < 0.001). Conclusions The incidence of severe reflux esophagitis was low after POEM, but excessive myotomy for older patients with previous treatments should be avoided. Early phase symptomatic GERD is non-acid reflux dependent and the natural course is favorable, basically supporting conservative treatment.