Young Child Cured of Rare Swallowing Disease in Chennai Hospital

An eight-year-old boy has successfully undergone a special endoscopic procedure at Rela Hospital in Chennai to treat a rare swallowing disorder known as Type II achalasia. This condition affects the nerves of the food pipe and stops the muscular valve connecting the food pipe to the stomach from opening properly. Because of this, food and liquids cannot pass normally into the stomach. The disorder is very rare and affects only 0.1 to 0.18 children out of every 100,000 each year. Before the treatment, the boy suffered from worsening trouble swallowing both solid food and liquids. Dr. S.N.K. Chenduran, a senior consultant and endoscopic surgeon in the medical gastroenterology department, performed the surgery. The operation, called Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy or POEM, took about 50 minutes to complete. The medical team noted that doing this procedure on young children needs high precision due to smaller food pipes and delicate tissues. Unlike regular surgery, POEM does not need any cuts or stitches on the outside of the body. Instead, the surgeon passes a small tube through the mouth to create a tiny tunnel inside the food pipe wall and cut the tight muscle fibers causing the block. The patient recovered quickly and could drink clear liquids and eat soft food within 24 hours of the operation. Dr. Dinesh Jothimani, director of hepatology and medical gastroenterology, advised parents that ongoing swallowing issues, throwing up food, and sudden weight loss in children need proper medical checks.

Context

Achalasia is a long-term condition that makes eating very difficult if left untreated, but modern techniques like endoscopic surgery help patients recover without open operations. Major specialty hospitals in large cities often handle such rare pediatric cases using advanced equipment. Early diagnosis helps children return to a normal diet and healthy weight quickly.