Experts from Shanghai and Xizang Successfully Treat Patient with Rare Disease

Medical aid teams to Xizang from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, working together with the expert team at Shigatse People's Hospital, have successfully treated a Tibetan patient with achalasia. The patient developed difficulty swallowing six months ago that gradually worsened, losing 40 jin (20 kg) in body weight. After unsuccessful visits to several hospitals, he was referred to the gastroenterology department of Shigatse People's Hospital, where endoscopy and barium meal imaging confirmed the diagnosis.

After expert consultation, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation was chosen. The procedure was performed by Liu Zuqiang and Li Shichao from Zhongshan Hospital together with Shen Feng from Xinhua Hospital and other experts, and took 50 minutes. The patient was able to drink water on the second day after surgery, took liquid food on the third day and was discharged smoothly on the seventh day.

The Chinese Clinical Guideline for Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy in the Treatment of Achalasia (2026, Shanghai), led by the team of Professor Zhou Pinghong at the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital, represents the authoritative consensus on minimally invasive treatment in this field.