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The gift to swallow restored for Anthony Whitefield at Westmead Private Hospital, a first in Australia

Mar 19, 2014

On 5th March, 2014 79 year old Anthony Whitefield underwent ground breaking endoscopic surgery performed by Professor Michael Bourke, Gastroenterologist to help him swallow. For the past 8-10 years Anthony has had trouble swallowing due to a spastic disorder of the lower oesophageal sphincter called Achalasia. So bad were his symptoms that his weight plummeted to less than 49kgs.

Anthony underwent Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) at Westmead Private Hospital, one of the very first POEM procedures to be performed in Australia. POEM involves creating a submucosal tunnel in the oesophageal wall and then selectively dividing individual muscle fibres deep in the oesophageal wall, particularly at the level of the lower oesophageal sphincter, thereby releasing the obstruction. The tunnel is then closed endoscopically with clips to avoid a leak of swallowed luminal contents into the chest outside of the oesophagus.

Professor Bourke was supported by Professor Paul Fockens, a world authority in POEM from the Netherlands.

Anthony will be on a light diet for the next week and will then progress back to a normal diet over time, which he has not enjoyed for quite some time. In particular he is looking forward to a seafood feast with his four children, 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild when he is fully recovered.

Tim Daniel, CEO of Westmead Private Hospital said, "It's an absolute privilege for us to play our part in this truly remarkable endoscopic surgery with all of it's minimally invasive advantages. It is just another great example of the outstanding medical innovation which is being performed at Westmead Private Hospital ".