Achalasia procedure introduced in Alberta [Video]

Albertans needing treatment for a rare swallowing disorder can now get treatment in the province.

Gastroenterologists and thoracic surgeons at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital and Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre recently started offering a minimally invasive procedure to help with achalasia, which is a neuromuscular disorder that creates an excessive tightness of the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach.

For some people, it can become so severe, they cannot swallow their own saliva.

The procedure is known as peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

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For years, Albertans with achalasia have been referred out of province if they were eligible for a non-surgical procedure.

Doctors performed the first POEM procedure in Alberta in October at the Foothills Medical Centre. Since then, 15 other patients in both cities have had the procedure.

Dr. Clarence Wong, a gastroenterologist who along with Dr. Scott Johnston this year performed the first …