Latest news with #POEM
Malaysian Reserve
23-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
ADVANCING ENDOSCOPIC EXCELLENCE
Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur Reaches 50 POEM Cases, Leading the Way in Minimally Invasive, Incisionless Treatment KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) proudly celebrates a major milestone in its endoscopic journey, having successfully performed 50 Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) procedures since the service was introduced in 2020. This achievement highlights the hospital's growing leadership in advanced, minimally invasive gastrointestinal treatments. The POEM procedures are led by Dr. Lau Peng Choong, Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgeon at PHKL. POEM is a cutting-edge, incisionless procedure used to treat achalasia, a rare disorder that affects the ability of the oesophagus to move food into the stomach. 'We're proud to reach this milestone of 50 POEM cases,' said Dr. Lau. 'This treatment has significantly improved the quality of life for patients with achalasia—a condition that's often misdiagnosed as acid reflux or anxiety. With POEM, we can now offer an effective, minimally invasive solution with quicker recovery and less discomfort.' Unlike traditional or even laparoscopic surgeries, POEM is performed entirely using an endoscope passed through the mouth. The technique involves cutting the muscles at the lower end of the oesophagus to allow smoother passage of food, offering faster recovery times, less pain, and lower complication risks. Expanding the Scope of Endoscopic Expertise In addition to POEM, Dr. Lau Peng Choong, Consultant Upper GI Surgeon, and Dr. Gew Lai Teck, Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, have successfully performed Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) for close to 20 patients with Stage 1 gastrointestinal cancers, eliminating the need for minimally invasive or open surgery. ESD is a highly precise procedure that allows for the removal of complex growths—such as early cancers or large polyps—from the gastrointestinal tract without external incisions. Both specialists are extensively trained in advanced endoscopic interventions, and their expertise is supported by a dedicated multidisciplinary team, ensuring that patients receive seamless, collaborative, and comprehensive care. 'With the recent introduction of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG), we're further broadening our scope of minimally invasive treatment options,' shared Dr. Lau. 'From cancer treatment to obesity management and digestive disorders, we're committed to helping patients heal faster, feel better, and return to daily life sooner.' PHKL is now offering ESG procedures at an introductory rate of RM25,000, making it an accessible solution for patients considering effective weight management treatments. The procedure is performed by Dr Lau Peng Choong, Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon, and Dr Gew Lai Teck, Consultant Gastroenterologist—both trained and experienced in advanced endoscopic techniques. For further information on the technologies used in these procedures: Learn more about Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD): Olympus Medical Solutions – ESD Overview Learn more about Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG): Boston Scientific – ESG Overview These advanced instruments are provided by PHKL's official vendors—Olympus Medical Solutions and Boston Scientific. For more information on Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, visit About Pantai Hospital Kuala LumpurFor five decades, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur has been the heartbeat of Kuala Lumpur, steadfastly delivering exceptional care to patients from all walks of life. Since its inception in 1974 with just 68 beds and 20 medical specialists, the hospital has grown into a healthcare icon today with 507 beds, over 200 consultants and counting. Our pursuit of quality healthcare, clinical excellence, and cutting-edge technology is underscored by our service quality and dedication towards clinical research. This has earned us accreditations from the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI). Additionally, we hold certification as a Baby-Friendly Hospital and is a preferred hospital in Malaysia by the World Health Organization (WHO). As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur looks to the future, unwaveringly committed to continuing its legacy of excellence with world-class healthcare services and innovative treatments for generations to come. Learn more at
Khaleej Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
NMC Specialty Hospital Abu Dhabi offers hope to Achalasia patients with advanced POEM procedure
The successful case underscores NMC Healthcare's commitment to excellence in clinical care and innovation In a major advancement for gastrointestinal care in the region, NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, has successfully performed a cutting-edge procedure to treat achalasia, a rare and progressive swallowing disorder using a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure known as POEM (Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy). The patient, a 23-year-old nurse, had been battling severe achalasia symptoms for several years. By the time she was referred to Dr Yogesh Shastri, consultant and head of the department of gastroenterology at NMC Specialty Hospital, her condition had significantly deteriorated. She was unable to eat or drink without extreme discomfort, had become severely malnourished and was relying on intravenous fluids. She also suffered from recurrent chest infections and experienced drastic weight loss, which had forced her to take indefinite leave from work. Achalasia, which affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people, occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to relax, preventing food and liquids from entering the stomach. Over time, this leads to food accumulation in the esophagus resulting in regurgitation, malnutrition, chest pain and recurrent respiratory infections. If left untreated, the disorder can severely impact overall health and quality of life. Given the severity and complexity of her case, Dr. Shastri and his team opted for POEM - a scarless, natural orifice procedure performed entirely through the mouth without any skin incisions. The technique involves creating a narrow and long tunnel within the esophageal wall to precisely cut the tight or malfunctioning muscle to relieve the obstruction at the junction of food pipe and stomach. The procedure, known for its high success rate and faster recovery time, is considered a significant advancement compared to traditional and conventional surgical approaches. "POEM is especially beneficial and is standard of care in cases like this one, where other treatments such as balloon dilation or Botox injections are no longer viable," said Dr Shastri. "It allows for a tailored and precise muscle incision depending on the severity of the disease and provides long-lasting relief with minimal risk". The outcome of the endoscopic surgery was highly successful, and the patient's transformation was immediate. Within days of the procedure, she was able to eat and drink normally for the first time in months. Her strength and energy levels improved, she began regaining weight, and has since resumed her professional duties with renewed energy and optimism. "After everything I've been through, being able to drink water without fear and discomfort felt like being reborn," said the patient. "As a nurse, I understood the risks, but I also knew this was my only chance to reclaim my life. I'm beyond grateful to Dr. Shastri and the team at NMC." Reflecting on her journey, she added: "When I was at my lowest, even a sip of water felt impossible. Today, I can enjoy meals, socialise again, and return to doing what I love - caring for others - with a deeper compassion having experienced firsthand what it means to suffer. It feels like I've been given my life back." POEM remains a highly specialised procedure available only in select centers globally, requiring specialised training and advanced equipment. By offering the procedure locally, NMC Specialty Hospital is bridging a critical gap in care for achalasia patients across the UAE and the wider region and for patients who previously had to travel to countries like the US, Germany, India or South Korea. "At NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi our focus is not just on treating disease, but restoring dignity and quality of life," added Dr. Shastri. "Innovations like POEM are at the heart of our mission to deliver world-class, patient centered care using the latest medical advancements". This successful case underscores NMC Healthcare's commitment to excellence in clinical care and innovation. As the hospital continues to invest in advanced procedures and multidisciplinary expertise, it offers renewed hope to patients facing rare and challenging conditions here in the UAE. For more information on NMC Healthcare, visit
Gulf Today
16-05-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
NMC Specialty Hospital Abu Dhabi restores hope to Achalasia patients in UAE through minimally invasive and highly specialized Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) procedure
In a major advancement for gastrointestinal care in the region, NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, has successfully performed a cutting-edge procedure to treat achalasia, a rare and progressive swallowing disorder using a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure known as POEM (Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy). The patient, a 23-year-old nurse, had been battling severe achalasia symptoms for several years. By the time she was referred to Dr. Yogesh Shastri, Consultant and Head of the Department of Gastroenterology at NMC Specialty Hospital, her condition had significantly deteriorated. She was unable to eat or drink without extreme discomfort, had become severely malnourished and was relying on intravenous fluids. She also suffered from recurrent chest infections and experienced drastic weight loss, which had forced her to take indefinite leave from work. Achalasia, which affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people, occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to relax, preventing food and liquids from entering the stomach. Over time, this leads to food accumulation in the esophagus resulting in regurgitation, malnutrition, chest pain and recurrent respiratory infections. If left untreated, the disorder can severely impact overall health and quality of life. Given the severity and complexity of her case, Dr. Shastri and his team opted for POEM - a scarless, natural orifice procedure performed entirely through the mouth without any skin incisions. The technique involves creating a narrow and long tunnel within the esophageal wall to precisely cut the tight or malfunctioning muscle to relieve the obstruction at the junction of food pipe and stomach. The procedure, known for its high success rate and faster recovery time, is considered a significant advancement compared to traditional and conventional surgical approaches. 'POEM is especially beneficial and is standard of care in cases like this one, where other treatments such as balloon dilation or Botox injections are no longer viable,' said Dr. Shastri. 'It allows for a tailored and precise muscle incision depending on the severity of the disease and provides long-lasting relief with minimal risk'. The outcome of the endoscopic surgery was highly successful, and the patient's transformation was immediate. Within days of the procedure, she was able to eat and drink normally for the first time in months. Her strength and energy levels improved, she began regaining weight, and has since resumed her professional duties with renewed energy and optimism. 'After everything I've been through, being able to drink water without fear and discomfort felt like being reborn,' said the patient. 'As a nurse, I understood the risks, but I also knew this was my only chance to reclaim my life. I'm beyond grateful to Dr. Shastri and the team at NMC.' Reflecting on her journey, she added: 'When I was at my lowest, even a sip of water felt impossible. Today, I can enjoy meals, socialize again, and return to doing what I love - caring for others - with a deeper compassion having experienced firsthand what it means to suffer. It feels like I've been given my life back.' POEM remains a highly specialized procedure available only in select centers globally, requiring specialised training and advanced equipment. By offering the procedure locally, NMC Specialty Hospital is bridging a critical gap in care for achalasia patients across the UAE and the wider region and for patients who previously had to travel to countries like the US, Germany, India or South Korea. 'At NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi our focus is not just on treating disease, but restoring dignity and quality of life,' added Dr. Shastri. 'Innovations like POEM are at the heart of our mission to deliver world-class, patient centered care using the latest medical advancements'. This successful case underscores NMC Healthcare's commitment to excellence in clinical care and innovation. As the hospital continues to invest in advanced procedures and multidisciplinary expertise, it offers renewed hope to patients facing rare and challenging conditions here in the UAE.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
European Space Agency explores possibilities of sending astronaut to India's space station in future
The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking at future possibilities of sending an astronaut to India's planned space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). 'Future cooperation possibilities include ESA astronaut flight opportunities to the planned BAS and early scientific utilisation as well as developing infrastructure in low earth orbit,' ESA said. India plans to set up BAS by 2035. Recently, ESA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a joint statement of intent on cooperation for human space exploration focusing on low earth orbit, and in a secondary stage on the moon. 'ESA and ISRO declared their intent to work together on the interoperability of rendezvous and docking systems to allow their respective spacecraft to work together in low earth orbit. They will also examine further activities related to astronaut training, analogue space missions – where teams test aspects of space missions in ground-based simulations – and parabolic flight activities,' it said. It further said that the joint statement will open the door for joint research and utilisation activities for the future in low earth orbit through the use of common standards. This could include joint research through existing projects or European space research being carried out on the Indian POEM platforms, which use the spent upper stage of a polar satellite launch vehicle as a temporary orbital platform. The two space agencies are also discussing alignment on payloads and robotic scientific missions to the moon. 'Such activities would be governed by specific agreements to be established,' the agency said.
Associated Press
12-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Fujifilm and EndoSim Partner to Expand Access to Advanced Endoscopy Training
Lexington, MA., Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation, a leading provider of endoscopy and endosurgery solutions, has partnered with EndoSim, a pioneer in evidence-based endoscopic simulation, to expand access to EndoGel,* a training model that simulates human tissue to help endoscopists practice endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedures. Through this partnership, Fujifilm will transfer its exclusive U.S. distributorship of EndoGel to EndoSim, expanding access of this critical training tool to the full market. Fujifilm identified a training gap in the U.S. market for ESD and POEM procedures, which are cutting-edge and lifesaving minimally invasive endoscopic surgical procedure more widely in Asian healthcare markets. This gap stemmed from a lack of practice material (aside from living tissue, animal tissue, and cadaver tissue) to train on highly technically complex procedure methods, leading the company to explore other options and ultimately bring EndoGel to the U.S. market in July 2022. EndoGel addresses this problem by simulating the texture of human tissue involved in ESD and POEM procedures, providing clinicians with a life-like simulation experience. With this unique and innovative training model, endoscopy professionals can benefit from the ability to: • practice marking and injecting, • perform circumferential incisions, • perform submucosal dissection, myotomy and clipping. 'As part of Fujifilm's commitment to endoscopy innovation, we are dedicated to bridging the educational divide in advanced procedures in the United States,' says Tai Fujita, general manager of endoscopy, FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation. 'By partnering with EndoSim to expand distributorship of EndoGel, together we are not just filling a training gap; we are setting new standards for education in endoscopic procedures that ultimately lead to better patient care.' 'Endosim is excited to partner with Fujifilm on the distribution of EndoGel in the United States. We appreciate the synergistic partnership with Fujifilm to improve access to endoscopic training,' said Kai Matthes, M.D., Ph.D., founder & chief executive officer, EndoSim LLC. 'We believe that EndoGel will be a valuable addition to our products and services in interventional endoscopy simulation. The ease of use of EndoGel will provide seamless access to practice novel, third space endoscopic procedures in the clinical setting when access to a hands-on lab is not available. EndoGel can be used in the endoscopy unit without the requirement to have dedicated endoscopic equipment for procedural training.' To learn more about EndoGel, visit or contact [email protected]. To learn more about Fujifilm, visit *EndoGel is owned and manufactured by Sunarrow Limited, Tokyo, Japan. EndoGel is a joint development between Sunarrow and the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan. About Fujifilm FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation is a comprehensive healthcare company that has an extensive range of technology and expertise in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Fujifilm's innovative portfolio includes solutions spanning diagnostic imaging, enterprise imaging, endoscopic imaging, surgical imaging, and in-vitro diagnostics. The company is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, leverages its depth of knowledge and proprietary core technologies to deliver innovative products and services across the globe through the four key business segments of healthcare, electronics, business innovation, and imaging with over 70,000 employees. Guided and united by our Group Purpose of 'giving our world more smiles,' we address social challenges and create a positive impact on society through our products, services, and business operations. Under its medium-term management plan, VISION2030, which ends in FY2030, we aspire to continue our evolution into a company that creates value and smiles for various stakeholders as a collection of global leading businesses and achieve a global revenue of 4 trillion yen (29 billion USD at an exchange rate of 140 JPY/USD). For more information, please visit: click here. About EndoSim Endosim is the market leader in endoscopic simulation and training in the United States and Europe. The Endosim Training Center and manufacturing plant are located in Bolton, Massachusetts. An additional Endosim Training Center in Schwabach, Germany, is servicing the European market. Endosim is partnering with many medical device companies and societies such as the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American College of Surgeons, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, and the European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
