Targeting the pylorus in gastroparesis: From physiology to endoscopic pyloromyotomy

Abstract

Background: The pylorus plays a key role in the control of gastric content outflow. Impairment of pyloric physiology has been observed in gastroparesis, particularly when associated with diabetes mellitus or opioid intake or after antireflux surgery. New tools have been developed to identify pyloric dysfunction in routine care, including functional luminal impedance planimetry (FLIP). As such, a new therapeutic strategy targeting the pylorus, namely endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM), has received increasing attention and emerged as a promising treatment for gastroparesis. Purpose: The present review details the involvement of the pyloric pathophysiology in gastroparesis, as well as clinical results of G-POEM according to the current literature.