April 24, 2024
“I was thrilled when presented with the opportunity to have the procedure here in Edmonton instead of having to travel and take extra time off work,” says Aumer Assaf, who underwent a procedure new to Alberta to relieve his swallowing problems. “The relief I felt from the procedure was immediate.”Photo by Evan Isbister.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Clarence Wong took part in Edmonton’s first peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure — a new minimally invasive procedure to treat swallowing disorders — at the Royal Alexandra Hospital earlier this year. He was joined by thoracic surgeon Dr. Scott Johnson (not shown).Photo by Evan Isbister.
Story by Sharman Hnatiuk | Photo & video by Evan Isbister
EDMONTON — After years of choking and coughing at mealtimes, Aumer Assaf can finally relax at the dinner table.
In January, the 50-year-old man took advantage of a new minimally invasive procedure to treat swallowing disorders closer to home thanks to a collaborative approach to treatment called peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), performed by a gastroenterologist and thoracic surgeon at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
For years, Assaf suffered from with achalasia — an excessive tightness of the ring of muscle between the esophagus and the stomach. Coughing and choking had become the norm for any meal, and his nights were plagued by insomnia due to choking.
Until recently, Albertans like Assaf would be referred out of province for treatment if they were eligible for a non-surgical procedure rather than traditional surgery. He was scheduled for POEM in Vancouver this past January, but cancelled that appointment when he was offered the opportunity be the second patient to receive the treatment at the Royal Alex.
“I was thrilled when presented the opportunity to have the procedure here in Edmonton instead of having to travel and take extra time off work,” says Assaf.
Recently, gastroenterology and thoracic surgery programs in the Calgary and Edmonton have collaborated to offer POEM. During the procedure, an endoscope — a narrow flexible tube with a camera — is inserted through the mouth and cuts the muscles in the esophagus, without the need for surgery or incisions in the skin.
“We have been working for years towards a program that sees specialists in Edmonton and Calgary treating Albertans in Alberta,” says thoracic surgeon Dr. Scott Johnson, who performed the city’s first POEM procedure with gastroenterologist Dr. Clarence Wong at the Royal Alex earlier this year.
Assaf stayed one night in hospital after the procedure as a precaution.
“I felt amazing in the morning,” he adds. “It was the best sleep I had in years. I experienced some discomfort swallowing as I slowly introduced foods to my diet, but the relief I felt from the procedure was immediate. My quality of life has skyrocketed.”
The first POEM procedure in Alberta was performed at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary last October. Since then, 15 patients have received POEM in an Alberta hospital, and it’s estimated 60 patients will be able to access the procedure in Edmonton and Calgary annually.
“Endoscopic procedures like POEM often mean less pain and a faster recovery than open surgical procedures,” says Dr. Wong. “The option to perform this procedure locally means Albertans can access care closer to home, without the added expense with out-of-province travel.”
