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.
Keywords Cardiomyotomy - Endoscopic - Heller myotomy - NOTES - Transesophageal